LIBKARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  C.AllhORNlA 

RIVERSIDE 


..^^ 


^'c^oa-t^-. 


NAPOLEON  IN  EXILE; 


OB, 


A  VOICE  FROM  ST.  HELENA 


THE 


OPINIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON 

ON    THE 

MOST  IMPORTANT  EVENTS    IN   HIS   LIFE   AND  GOVERNMENT, 
IN   HIS   OWN   WORDS. 


BY  BARRY  E.  O'MEARA,  ESQ., 

Hia   LATE  SURGEON. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES.-VOL.    I. 


NEW  YORK. 

PETER  ECKLER,  PUBLISHER, 

No.  35  Fulton  Street, 


DctJl 


•JK  I'KIF.  VKS  PAIlEyS  ET  AMLS  DE  ClWIllE  TOUT  CE  QUE  LE  DOCTEVB 
O'MEAKA  LEIR  DIliA  liELAriVEilEyr  A  LA  rOSITlON  OU  JE  ME  TkOVVe 
K^  i  CJT  SENTIMENS  QUE  JE  COSSER  VE  * 


//l^ayU_,A^^ 


fa  lA^ 


S't/  xxiis  tna  clu:ie  Lnuise,  je  la 
inie  de  permeUre  ipi'ff  ivi 
'/aise  la  main 

Napoleon 
25  JuOla  181* 


•  Vide  preface,  page  vu 


THE   RIGHT   HON.   LADY    HOLLAND, 


WHOSE    HUMANE  ATTENTIONS   TO 

NAPOLEON    IN   «T.    HELENA, 

t>k£w  from  him,  in  his  dying  moments,  the  grateful  expression  ok  hm 

"satisfaction    1  nd   esteem," 

THESE   VOLUMES 

ABE.  WITH    HER    LADTSHIp's    PERMISSION,    MOST    RESPEclTFTJI.I,Y   INSORIEKD. 
ST    HER    UAJDVSPIf's    VEUT    OBEDIENT,    HUMBLE   SKRVaM  , 


BARRY  E.  O'MEARA 


PREFACE. 


Placed  by  peculiar  circumstauces,  arising  from  nij  pro- 
fession, about  the  person  of  the  most  extraordinary  man 
perhaps  of  any  age,  in  the  most  critical  junctare  of  his 
life,  I  determined  to  profit  by  the  opportunities  afforded  me, 
as  far  as  I  could  consistently  with  honor.  The  following 
volumes  are  the  result.  The  reader  will  see,  in  the  very 
outset  of  the  work,  how  it  was  that  I  became  attached  as  a 
medical  officer  to  the  household  of  Napoleon,  Tiiat  it  was 
in  consequence  of  his  own  application,  by  the  advice  of 
my  superiors,  and  with  the  full  concurrence  of  the  lords  of 
the  admiralty.  I  never  sought  the  situation  :  it  was  in 
some  degree  assigned  me ;  and  most  assuredly  I  should 
have  shrunk  from  the  acceptance  of  it,  had  I  contemplated 
the  possibility  of  being  even  remotely  called  on  to  com- 
promise the  principles  either  of  an  officer  or  a  gentleman. 
Before,  however,  I  had  been  long  scorched  upon  the  rock 
of  St.  Helena,  1  was  taught  to  appreciate  the  embarrass- 
ments of  my  situation.  I  saw  soon  that  I  must  either 
become  accessory  to  vexations  for  which  there  was  no 
necessity,  or  incur  suspicions  of  no  very  comfortable  nature. 
Fortunately  for  my  honor,  my  happiness,  and  indeed  for 
everything  except  my  interests,  I  did  not  hesitate.  Hu- 
manity required  of  me  a  consideration  for  my  patient.  The 
uniform  I  wore  imperiously  commanded  that  I  should  not 
soil  it  by  indignities  to  a  captive,  and  my  country's  cha- 
racter pledged  me  to  hold  sacred  the  misfortunes  of  the 
fallen.  This  I  did.  It  is  my  pride  to  avow  it :  a  pride 
inferior  only  to  that  which  I  feel  in  finding  those  men  my 
enemies  who  consider  it  a  crime. 


fl  PREFACE. 

The  few  alli'viations  wliich  1  hail  il  in  mv  power  to  offer, 
NaioliMM  rfpuiil  by  tlio  oondo.^ciiision  with  which  hi;  boii- 
onxl  me ;  ami  my  necessary  professional  int'  rcoursi!  was 
8oon  increased  int(^  an  intimacy,  ii'  I  may  speak  of  inti- 
macy with  such  a  jiersonage.  In  fact,  in  the  seclusion  of 
lAingwootl,  he  s»>on  almost  entirely  laid  aside  the  emperor 
with  those  al>«'Ut  him,  he  conversed  liimiliarly  on  his  past 
life,  and  sketcheil  the  characters,  and  ilctailcd  the  anecilotes 
which  are  here  presented  I'aithfully  to  the  reader.  The  un- 
reserved manner  in  which  he  spoke  of  everything,  can 
only  be  conceived  by  those  who  heard  him  ;  and  though 
where  his  own  conduct  was  questioned,  he  had  a  natural 
human  leaning  towaids  himself — still  truth  appeared  to  be 
his  j)rincipal,  if  not  his  only  object.  In  the  delineation  of 
character  he  was  peculiarly  felicitous.  His  mind  seemed 
to  concentrate  its  beams  on  the  object  he  wished  to  eluci- 
date, and  ita  prominent  features  became  instantly  discerni- 
ble. The  intimate  acquaintance  which  he  necessarily  pos- 
sessed with  all  the  great  characters  who  ligured  in  Europe 
for  the  last  thirty  years,  gave  to  his  opinions  and  observa- 
tions more  than  ordinary  interest :  indeed  from  no  other 
source  could  such  authentic  information  be  acquired.  Not- 
withstanding the  interval  which  elapsed  since  many  of  the 
occurrences  alluded  to  took  jj^ace,  and  the  distracting  occu- 
pations which  must  have  employed  his  mind,  it  was  won- 
derful to  see  how  freshly  he  remembered  every  transaction 
which  became  the  subject  of  inquiry.  If  there  was  any- 
ihing  more  extraordinary  than  this,  it  was  the  apathy  with 
which  he  perused  the  libels  which  were  written  on  him — 
iie  seemed  inspired  with  a  conviction  of  posthumous  fame, 
beyond  the  reach  of  contemporary  depreciation.  But  per- 
haps a  knowledge  of  the  man  may  be  better  acquired  from 
seeing  him — as  he  really  was  during  the  first  three  years 
of  his  residence  at  St.  llelena,  than  from  any  speculative 
deduction — as  he  appeared,  spoke,  acted,  and  seemed  to 
feel,  the  reader  shall  have  him.  It  may  perhaps  be  only 
right  to  add,  that  some  of  the  observations  or  arguments 
on  particular  subjects  were  committed  to  paper  from  Na- 
poleon's own  dictation. 

Before,  however,  we  go  further,  I  feel   that  the  public 
have  a  right  to  demand  huw  lar  they  can  depend  on  tne 


PREFACE.  Vll 

authenticity  of  these  volumes.  To  the  friends  who  know 
me,  I  hope  no  verification  is  necessary — to  my  detractors 
even  mathetiiaLical  proof  would  be  unavailing — to  those 
who  are  prejudiced,  neither  on  one  side  nor  the  other,  the 
following  corroborations  are  submitted  : 

In  the  first  place,  then,  I  refer  to  the  fac-simile  of  Na- 
poleon's hand-writing  prefixed  to  the  frontispiece,  and 
given  to  me  by  himself  as  a  proof  of  the  confidence  with 
which  he  treated  me — the  original  of  this  any  person  who 
chooses  to  apply  to  me  shall  see.  I  refer  also  to  the  whole 
Longwood  household,  and  more  particularly  to  the  execu- 
tors, Counts  Bertrand  and  Montholon,  and  to  Count  Las 
Cases,  as  to  the  facilities  I  had,  and  the  familiarity  with 
which  I  was  honored.  This,  I  hope,  will  be  sufficient  cv 
the  score  of  opportunity. 

The  next  point  is  as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  transcript. 
Upon  this  subject  my  plan  was  as  follows :  I  spoke  as 
little  and  listened  as  attentively  as  I  could,  seldom  inter- 
posing, except  for  the  j)urpose  of  leading  to  those  facts  on 
which  I  wished  for  information.  To  my  memory,  though 
naturally  retentive,  I  did  not  entirely  trust :  immediately 
on  retiring  from  Napoleon's  presence,  I  hurried  to  my 
chamber  and  carefully  committed  to  paper  the  topica  of 
conversation,  with,  so  far  as  I  could,  the  exact  words  used. 
Where  I  had  the  least  doubt  as  to  my  accuracy,  I  marked 
it  in  my  journal,  and  by  a  subsequent  recurrence  to  the 
topic,  when  future  opportunities  oft'ered,  I  satisfied  myself; 
this,  although  I  have  avoided  them  as  much  as  possible, 
may  account  for  some  occasional  repetitions,  but  I  have 
thought  it  better  to  appear  sometimes  tedious,  than  ever  to 
run  the  risk  of  a  mis-statement.  My  long  residence  at 
Longwood  rendered  those  opportunities  frequent,  and  the 
facility  of  communication  which  Napoleon  allowed,  made 
the  introduction  of  almost  any  subject  easy.  Thus  did  I 
form  my  original  journal ;  as  it  increased  in  interest,  it 
became  of  course  to  me  an  object  of  increased  solicitude; 
and  as  nothing  which  could  possibly  occur  at  St.  Helena 
would  have  surprised  me,  I  determined  to  place  its  contents 
at  least  beyond  the  power  of  that  spoliation  which  after- 
wards was  perpetrated  on  some  of  my  other  property. 
Having  purchased  in  the  island  a  machine  for  that  purpose, 


Tiii  PUKKACt. 

I  InuuuniiUHl  at  intervalH  tlu'  portioiis  copied  to  a  friend  on 
l»vird  one  of  his  njaje^ty's  snips  in  the  roads,  who  for- 
wiinl.vl  tliem,  a.s  i)p|x>rtunities  oeeurreil,  to  Mr.  llnlnies  ol' 
Lvon's  Inn,  N:»|>«^l«'«>n's  respectable  agent  in  London.  The 
entire  of  this  eojiv  Mr.   Ilolnie^s  duly  reoi-ived   some  time 

Ercvious  to  my  return  to  Kn^land,  lus  appears  bcli)\v  by 
is  own  authenlieation,*  and  jtart  i»f  the  silver  jiaper  niaiiu- 
acript  as  he  rtveiveil  it,  1  have  ileposited  with  my  j)ublisher 
for  llic  salislaetion  of  the  skeptical.  Thus,  lor  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  following  conversations  the  reader  has  the 
giiarnn teen's,  tirst,  of  the  undoubted  opportunities  ad'orded 
me-  seet)ndly,  of  their  having  been  t^tken  on  the  spot; 
and  thirdly,  of  their  having  been  transmitted  at  the  mo 
mcnt ;  and  fourthly,  of  the  original  document  itself,  au- 
tijenticaled  by  the  persotj  to  whom  it  had  been  consigned 
and  now  submitted  to  general  inspection.  Independent 
of  these,  I  think  I  may  refer  with  confidence  to  those  third 
persons,  whose  interviews  with  Napoleon  are  occasionally 
introduced  ;  and  some  of  the  oflicial  members  of  his  ma- 
jesty's government  cannot,  with  truth,  deny,  that  many  of 
the  political  conversations  were  by  me  communicated  at 
no  great  interval  after  their  occurrence.  Such  communica- 
tions I  considered  it  my  duty  to  make  wherever  1  thought 
their  import  might  benefit  the  country.  What  use  min- 
isters may  have  made  of  them  I  know  not,  but  certainly 
the  preventive  system  with  respect  to  smugglers  was 
adopted  soon  after  the  transmission  of  Napoleon's  conver- 
sation on  the  subject.  Perhaps,  however,  after  all,  the  best 
proof  of  the  authenticity  of  these  volumes  will  be  Ibund 
in  their  own  contents — independent  of  the  internal  evi- 
dence contained  in  the  anecdotes  themselves,  there  was,  on 
whatever  came  from  Napoleon's  mind,  an  mimitable  im- 
press. On  this  subject,  if  1  appear  to  many  unnecessarily 
minute,  it  is  because  1  am  well  aware  that  every  attempt 
will  be  made  to  deny  the  authenticity  of  these  conversa- 
tions ;  there  are  too  many  implicated — too  many  interested 

*  3  Lyon's  Inn,  Jiint  22d,  1822. 

I  eertify  that   I  received   all  Uie  papers  alluded  to  by  Mr.  O'Meara  io  tL** 
^»i«*,  a  c«jii«iderable  time  before  hw  arrival  in  England. 

William  UoLUsa. 


PREPACiJ.  li 

—too  many  who  must  wish  to  cast  an  impenetrable  shade 
over  the  transactions  of  St.  Helena,  to  suffer  the  truth  to 
obtain  an  undisputed  circulation.  The  following  official 
letters  will  show,  that  it  was  at  least  the  desire  of  his 
majesty's  ministers  to  bury  Napoleon's  mind  with  his  body 
in  the  grave  of  his  imprisonment.  If  I  have  disobeyed 
the  injunction,  it  is  because  I  thought  that  every  fragment 
of  such  a  mind  should  be  preserved  to  history,  because  I 
despised  the  despotism  which  would  incarcerate  even  intel- 
lect : — and  because  I  thought  those  only  should  become 
subsidiary  to  concealment,  who  were  conscious  of  actions 
which  could  not  bear  the  light.  The  following  creditable 
documents  emanating  from  the  ministers  of  a  free  country, 
were  transmitted  by  authority  to  me  at  St,  Helena,  soon 
after  the  publication  of  Mr.  Warden's  book.  Every  feel- 
ing heart  will  make  its  own  comment  on  them. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Conqueror, 

8t.  Helena  Roads,  2d  January,  1813. 

Sir, — I  herewith  inclose  to  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  I  have 
just  received  from  Mr.  Secretary  Barrow,  (relative  to  a 
work  published  by  Mr.  Warden,  late  surgeon  of  his  majes- 
ty's ship  Northumberland,)  which  I  desire  you  will  pay 
most  particular  attention  to. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient. 

Humble  Servant, 

RoBT.  Plampln,  . 

Rear  Admiral,  Commander-in-Chief. 
To  Mr-  Barry  O'Meara,  Surgeojr, 

R.  N.  Longwood,  St.  Helena. 


'Jfo.  XII.)  Admiralty  Office,  Uth  September,  1817. 

Sir, — My  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  admiralty  having 
had  under  their  consideration  a  work  which  has  been  pub- 
lished by  Mr.  Warden,  late  surgeon  of  his  majesty's  ship 
Northumberland,  their  lordships  have  commanded  me  to 
signify  their  directions  to  you  to  acquaint  all  the  officers 
employed  under  your  orders,  tlijit  they  are  to  understand, 
tiiat  if  they  should  presume  to  publish  any  information 


X  IRKFACE. 

which  thev  may  havt*  obUiiuetl  by  being  obiciivlly  emi^lojed 
at  St.  Helena,  they  'vill  suflVr  Oieir  lonlshijs'  Louv  y  dis- 
|>lf:i.sure. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  nuist  ohodient, 

Humble  Servant, 

John  Uahkow. 

to  AVair  Admiral  Plampiit,  St.  J/rlnia. 

Such  were  the  attempts,  certainly  not  unaccountable,  to 
cancel  all  recollection  of  Najujlcon,  at  least  in  his  captivity 
— those  who  issued  these  orders  forgot  that  the  jioivrr  aid  not 
accompany  the  will  to  subject  the  publications  of  Knglish- 
men  to  an  I'ynjmjnatiir.  I)cspising  the  denunciation  as  I 
did,  and  from  my  heart  do,  I  have,  however,  thought  it 
only  my  duty  not  to  publish  these  conversations  till  after 
Napoleon's  death  ;  nor  have  I  done  so  even  now,  without 
the  knowledge  of  his  executors.  All  danger  from  tliem  is 
past:  the  tongue  which  uttered  them  is  silent  for  ever,  and 
liistorv  has  a  right  to  them. 

If  I  wiis  disposed  to  comment  on  these  letters,  I  should 
say  that  they  proceed  altogether  upon  a  wrong  assumption  ; 
namely,  that  an  official  footing  at  Longwood  gave  to  any 
one  the  power  of  obtaining  the  information  which  I  col- 
lected. Nothing  can  be  more  absurd.  If  I  had  acted  a 
different  part  from  what  I  did — if,  in  place  of  reconciling 
the  allegiance  of  a  subject  with  the  compassion  of  a  Chris- 
tian, and  preserving  the  rights  of  my  country,  while  1  took 
care  not  to  comj»romise  the  feelings  of  my  nature,  I  tried 
to  make  my  office  the  avenue  to  fortune — if  I  sunk  the 
man  in  the  menial — if  I  became  an  official  slave  instead  of 
an  honest  servant — if  I  courted  power,  by  straining  iny 
loyalty  to  suit  the  purposes  of  mean  vexation  and  unmanly 
vengeance — if  I  lifted  uj)  my  hoof  against  the  dead  lion, 
or  disjtlayed  my  pigmy  prowess  by  a  dastard  warfare  upon 
the  helpless  infirmities  of  a  fallen  enemy;  I  should  not 
only  have  had  no  opportunities  of  access,  but  I  should 
have  been  proscribed  Napoleon's,  and  man's  society.  But 
1  acted  altogether  upon  different  principles;  alter  having 
devoted  the  best  fifteen  years  of  my  life  to  c<nnbating  his 
soldiers  in  the   field,  and  on  the  wave,  I    forgot,  when  he 


PREFACE.  XI 

was  mj  country's  prisoner,  that  he  had  ever  been  my  coun 
try's  foe.  I  thought  the  conquest  of  clemency,  superior 
even  to  that  of  valor,  and  that  a  proud  country  should 
make  her  enemies  confess,  not  only  that  she  conquered, 
but  that  she  deserved  to  conquer.  In  such  a  place  as  St. 
Helena,  there  could  have  been  no  danger  from  the  worst 
man's  deviating  into  feelings  of  humanity ;  fenced  round, 
as  it  is,  with  the  most  frightful  precipices,  with  only  one 
practicable  place  of  egress,  and  that  one  not  only  bristling 
with  cannon,  and  crowded  with  guards,  but  effectually  bar- 
ricadoed  by  our  squadron,  escape  could  scarcely  have  been 
effected  by  a  miracle.  The  simple  precaution  which  Na- 
poleon himself  suggested,  of  never  suffering  any  ship  to 
sail,  until  his  actual  safety  should  be  ascertained,  might 
have  obviated  the  necessity  of  almost  any  other.  Having 
said  thus  much  upon  the  motives  by  which  my  conduct 
has  been  actuated,  I  have  only  to  add,  that  although  I 
shall  contemptuously  pass  by  any  anonymous  insinuations, 
I  am  ready  to  meet  any  charge  before  any  tribunal  what- 
soever, where  the  truth  can  be  investigated.  Lei  me  only 
have  an  opportunity  of  proof,  and  a  responsible  accuser. 
In  the  face  of  the  world,  I  challenge  investigation.  With 
respect  to  the  mandiite  issued  by  the  admiralty  againsi 
publication,  it  is  suited  to  the  meridian  rather  of  Algiers 
than  England — the  very  attempt  in  a  free  country,  need 
only  be  mentioned  to  be  reprobated;  it  must  have  proved 
as  abortive  as  it  was  despotic,  for  even  were  any  English- 
man base  enough  to  obey  it,  the  Frenchman  need  not ; 
so  that  it  was  at  best  but  a  bungling  rellnement  on  the  re- 
volutionary device  said  to  have  been  proposed,  of  burning 
the  books  in  Paris,  to  annihilate  learning,  as  if  no  othei- 
copies  existed  in  the  world.  With  this  remark,  howevei', 
I  shall  dismiss  the  subject,  as  it  is  difiicult  to  say,  whether 
the  credit  of  the  measure  is  due  to  the  present  literary 
board,  or  to  those  lay  philosophers  whose  future  censor- 
ship has  been  since  cruelly  dispensed  with  by  the  House 
of  Commons. 

With  respect  to  the  views  of  men  and  things  taken  by 
Napoleon  in  his  remarks,  I  beg  to  guard  myself  against 
any  adoption  of  them  as  my  own.  I  an.  merely  the  narra- 
tor.    I  give  them  as   the  substance  of  his  interesting  and 


xn  PRKFACF. 

anr<».«<orve<l  conversations,  neither  voucliinp  f<jr  ttic  critical 
esactneKs  of  his  dates,  nor  the  justness  of"  his  opinions,  nor 
indeed  for  anything  but  the  accuracy  of  my  report.  I  only 
engage  to  the  reatlrr  to  lay  iK-fore  him  Napoleon's  senti- 
ments as  that  extrat)nlinary  man  uttered  them, 

•  Wiiriu  from  tlu-  heart,  and  faithful  to  its  fires." 

In  making  this  remark,  however,  I  am  bound  to  add, 
that  I  neitlu-r  avoid  nor  evade  inquiry;  in  any  investiga- 
tion in  which  f/w  trutJi  can  be  (old,  I  am  perfectly  willing  to 
lake  my  share,  ready  to  abide  the  event,  whether  it  bring 
reward  or  re8v>onsibdity. 


NAPOLEON  IN   EXILE; 

OR, 

A   VOICE   FROM   ST.    HELENA. 


In  consequence  of  the  resolution  which  had  been  adopted  by 
the  British  government  to  send  the  former  sovereign  of  France 
to  a  distant  settlement,  and  communicated  to  him  by  Major 
General  Sir  Henry  Bunbury,  under  secretary  of  state,  on  board 
of  the  Bellerophon,  74,  Captain  Maitland,  at  Plymouth,  a  few 
days  before.  Napoleon,  accompanied  by  such  of  his  suite  as  were 
permitted  by  our  government,  was  removed  on  the  4th  of 
August,  1815,  from  the  Bellerophon  to  the  Northumberland,  74, 
Captain  Ross.  The  vessel  bore  the  flag  of  Rear-Admiial  Sir 
George  Cockburn,  G.  C.  B.,  who  was  intrusted  with  the  charge 
of  conveying  Napoleon  to  St.  Helena,  and  of  regulating  all 
measures  necessary  to  the  security  of  his  personal  detention, 
after  his  arrival  at  the  place  of  his  confinement.  Out  of  the 
suite  that  had  followed  his  fortunes  on  board  of  the  Bellerophon 
and  Myrmidon,  his  majesty's  government  permitted  four  of  his 
officers,  his  surgeon,  and  twelve  of  his  household,  to  share  his 
exile.  The  undermentioned  persons  were  consequently  selected, 
and  accompanied  him  on  board  of  the  Northumberland  : — Counts 
Bertrand,  Montholon,  and  Las  Cases,  Baron  Gourgaud,  Countess 
Bertrand  and  her  three  children,  Countess  Montholon  and  child, 
Marchand,  premier  valet  de  chambre,  Cipriani,  maitre  d'hotel, 
Pieron,  St.  Denis,  Novarre,  Le  Page,  two  Archambauds,  Santini, 
Rousseau,  Gentilini,  Josephine,  Bernard  and  his  wife,  domestics 
to  Count  Bertrand.     A  fine  youth  of  about  fourteen,  son  to  Count 

1 


S  A    VOICK    Flii'M    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

La.1  CiuM^a,  wfts  also  pormittod  to  accompany  his  father.  Pr(v 
ri'^us  to  thoir  ri<iiu>val  from  the  RoIU'rnphon,  the  swords  and 
othrr  arms  of  the  prisoners  were  denian<le(l  from  them,  and 
thoir  hicjiaije  suhseqiiently  examined,  in  order  that  possession 
inij-ht  he  taken  of  any  property  fonnd,  whether  in  bills,  money, 
or  jewels.  After  paying  those  of  his  suite  who  were  not  per 
initted  t«)  aeeompany  him,  only  four  thousand  Napoleons  in  gold 
were  found,  which  were  taken  possession  of  hy  persons  authorized 
to  that  eflect  by  his  majesty's  government. 

WhfU  the  determination  of  the  British  ministers  to  send 
Napoleon  to  St.  Helena  was  communicated  to  his  suite,  M. 
Maingaud,  the  surgeon  who  had  accompanied  him  from  Roche- 
fort,  refused  to  follow  him  to  the  tropics.  M.  Maingaud  was  a 
young  man  unknown  to  Napoleon,  and  had  been  fortuitously 
chosen  to  attend  him  until  M.  Forreau  de  Beauregard,  who  had 
been  his  surgeon  in  Elba,  could  join  him  ;  and  I  was  informed 
that  even  had  he  been  willing  to  proceed  to  St.  Helena,  his  ser- 
vices wt>uld  not  have  been  accepted.  On  the  day  that  Napoleon 
first  came  on  board  of  the  Bellerophon,  after  he  had  gone  round 
the  ship,  he  addressed  me  on  the  poop,  and  asked  if  I  were  the 
chirurgien  major?  I  replied  in  the  affirmative,  in  the  Italian 
language.  He  then  asked  in  the  same  language,  what  country  I 
was  a  native  of?  I  replied  of  Ireland.  "  Where  did  you  study 
your  profession  ?"  "  In  Dublin  and  London."  "  Which  of  the 
two  is  the  best  school  of  physic  ?"  I  replied  that  I  thought 
Dublin  the  best  school  of  anatomy,  and  London  of  surgery. 
'■  Oh,"  said  he,  smiling,  "you  say  Dublin  is  the  best  school  of 
anatomy  because  you  are  an  Irishman."  I  answered  that  I 
begged  pardon,  that  I  had  said  so  because  it  was  true ;  as  in 
Dublin  the  subjects  for  dissection  were  to  be  procured  at  a  fourth 
<  if  the  price  paid  in  London,  and  the  professors  were  equally 
good.  He  smiled  at  this  reply,  and  asked  what  actions  I  had 
been  in,  and  in  what  parts  of  the  globe  I  had  served  ?  I  men- 
tioned several,  and  amongst  others  Egypt.  At  the  word  Egypt,  he 
commenced  a  series  of  questions,  which  I  answered  to  the  best 
•  if  rny  ability.  I  mentioned  to  him  that  the  corps  of  officers  to 
which  I  then  belonged   messed  in  a  house  which  had  formerly 


1815 — i^UGUST.  3 

served  as  a  stable  for  his  horses.  He  Laughed  at  this,  and  ever 
afterwards  noticed  me  when  walking  on  deck,  and  occasionally 
called  me  to  interpret  or  explain.  On  the  passage  from  Roche- 
fort  to  Torbay,  Colonel  Planat,  one  of  his  orderly  officers,  was 
taken  very  ill,  and  attended  by  me,  as  M.  Maingaud  was  incapa- 
ble, through  sea-sickness,  of  offering  any  assistance.  During 
the  period  of  his  illness,  Napoleon  frequently  asked  about  him, 
and  conversed  with  me  on  the  nature  of  his  malady,  and  the 
mode  of  cure  practiced.  After  our  arrival  at  Plymouth,  General 
Gourgaud  also  was  very  unwell,  and  did  me  the  honor  to  have 
recourse  to  me  for  advice.  All  those  circumstances  had  the 
effect  of  bringing  me  more  in  contact  with  Napoleon  than  any 
other  officer  in  the  ship,  with  the  exception  of  Captain  Maitland  ; 
and  the  day  before  the  Bellerophon  left  Torbay,  the  Duke  of 
Rovigo,  with  whom  I  was  frequently  in  the  habit  of  conversing, 
asked  me  if  I  were  willing  to  accompany  Napoleon  to  St.  Helena 
as  surgeon,  adding,  that  if  I  were,  I  s>.  uld  receive  a  communica- 
tion to  that  effect  from  Count  Bertraivi  the  grand  marechal.  I 
replied  that  I  had  no  objection,  provided  the  British  government 
and  my  captain  were  willing  to  permit  me,  and  also  under  cer- 
tain stipulations.  I  communicated  this  immediately  to  Captain 
Maitland,  who  was  good  enough  to  favor  me  with  his  advice  and 
opinion  ;  which  were  that  I  ought  to  accept  of  the  offer,  provided 
the  sanction  of  Admiral  Lord  Keith  and  of  the  English  govern- 
ment could  be  obtained,  adding,  that  he  would  mention  the 
matter  to  his  lordship.  On  our  arrival  at  Torbay,  Count  Ber- 
trand  made  the  proposal  to  Captain  Maitland  and  myself,  which 
was  immediately  communicated  to  Lord  Keith.  His  Lordship 
sent  for  me  on  board  of  the  Tonnant,  and  after  some  preliniinai\ 
conversation,  in  which  I  explained  the  nature  of  the  stipulations 
I  was  desirous  of  making,  did  me  the  honor  to  recommend  me 
in  strong  terms  to  accept  of  the  situation,  adding,  that  he  could 
not  order  me  to  do  so,  as  it  was  foreign  to  the  naval  service  and 
a  business  altogether  extraordinary  ;  but  that  he  advised  me  to 
accept  of  it,  and  expres?ed  his  conviction  that  government  would 
feel  obliged  to  me,  as  they  were  very  anxious  that  Napoleon 
should  be  accompanied  by  a  surgeon  of  his  own  choice.     His 


4  A    VOUK    FU<»M    Sr.    HKLKNA. 

lordiihip  »*1dod,  that  it  x.-is  an  .'mplovinoiit  which  1  luiild  hold 
porfoctly  c«>nsistont  with  my  honi>r,  ami  with  thi-  liuty  I  owed  Lc 
my  iH>untry  and  my  sovereign. 

Feeling  highly  gnitified  that  the  stej)  which  1  had  in  eontoni- 
plnti.'U  had  met  with  the  approbation  of  charaeters  so  distin- 
^  li-hed  in  the  service  as.  Admiral  Lord  Keith  aiKl  Captain 
Maitland/  I  accepted  of  the  situation,  and  proceeded  on  board 
of  the  Northumberland,  stipulating,  however,  by  letter  to  his 
lordsliip,  that  1  should  be  always  considered  as  a  British  officer, 
and  upon  the  list  of  na-val  surgeons  on  full  j)ay,  paid  by  the 
British  government,  and  that  I  should  be  at  liberty  to  quit  so 
peculiar  a  service,  should  I  find  it  not  to  be  consonant  to  my 
w  ishes.f 

During  the  voyage,  which  lasted  about  ten  weeks.  Napoleon 
did  not  suffer  much  from  sea-sickness  after  the  first  week.  He 
rarely  made  his  appearance  on  deck  until  after  dinner.  He 
breakfasted  in  his  own  cabin,  a  la  fourchette,  at  ten  or  eleven 
o'clock,  and  spent  a  considerable  portion  of  the  day  in  writing 

•  It  Is  no  small  gratification  to  me  to  be  able  to  produce  such  a  testimonial  as 
the  following  from  a  captain  with  whom  I  served  in  three  diflferent  ships : 

Nuvemher  5th,  1814. 

Dkab  Sib:— The  attention  and  meritorious  conduct  of  Mr.  Barry  O'Meara, 
while  Burjroon  with  me  in  the  Goliath,  calls  upon  me  as  an  act  of  justice  to  him 
and  of  benefit  to  the  service,  to  state,  that  during  the  fifteen  years  I  have  com- 
manded some  one  of  his  majesty's  ships,  I  have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  sail- 
ing with  an  officer  in  his  situation  who  so  fully  answered  my  expectations.  Not 
being  a  judge  of  his  professional  abilities,  though  I  have  every  reason  to  believe 
ihem  of  the  first  class,  and  know  that  to  be  the  opinion  of  some  of  the  oldest 
•ud  most  respectable  surgeons  in  the  navy,  I  shall  only  state,  tliat  during  a 
period  of  very  bad  weather,  which  occasioned  the  Goliath  to  be  extremely 
sickly,  hi.-*  attention  and  tenderness  to  the  men  was  such  as  to  call  forth  my 
Warmest  approbation  and  the  grateful  affection  of  both  officers  and  men.  Were 
it  probable  that  I  should  soon  obtain  another  appointment,  I  know  of  no  man 
in  the  service  I  should  wish  to  have  as  surgeon  so  much  as  Mr.  O'Meara.  As, 
however,  in  the  present  state  of  the  war  that  is  not  likely,  I  trust  you  will  do  mc 
the  favor  of  giving  him  an  appointment,  as  an  encouragement  to  young  men  of 
his  de«cription,  and  believe  me, 

Dear  Sir,  &c.,  &c.,  <&c., 

Fbsderiok  L.  Maitlanik 
To  D».  flARsnn,  Ac,  Ac,  Ac, 

Tran^ort  Board. 

1  App«odiz  No.  1. 


1816 — OCTOBER.  5 

and  reading.  Before  he  sat  down  to  dinner  he  generally  played 
a  game  at  chess,  and  remained  at  that  meal,  in  compliment  to 
the  admiral,  about  an  hour ;  at  which  time  coffee  was  brought  to 
him,  and  he  left  the  company  to  take  a  walk  upon  deck,  accom- 
panied by  Counts  Bertrand  or  Las  Cases,  while  the  admiral  and 
the  rest  continued  at  table  for  an  hour  or  two  longer.  While 
walking  the  quarter-deck,  he  frequently  spoke  to  such  of  the 
officers  as  could  understand  and  converse  with  him  ;  and  often 
asked  Mr.  Warden,  (the  surgeon  of  the  Northumberland,)  ques- 
tions touching  the  prevailing  complaints,  and  mode  of  treatment 
of  the  sick.  He  occasionally  played  a  game  at  whist,  but 
generally  retired  to  his  cabin  at  nine  or  ten  o'clock.  Such  was 
the  uniform  course  of  his  life  during  the  voyage. 

The  Northumberland  hove  too  off  Funchal,  and  the  Havannah 
frigate  was  sent  in  to  procure  refreshments.  During  the  time 
we  were  off  the  anchorage,  a  violent  scirocco  levante  prevailed, 
which  did  great  mischief  to  the  grapes.  We  were  informed  that 
some  of  the  ignorant  and  superstitious  inhabitants  attributed  it  to 
the  presence  of  Napoleon.  Fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred  volumes 
of  books  were  ordered  from  England  for  Napoleon's  use,  by 
Count  Bertrand. 

We  arrived  at  St.  Helena  on  the  15th  of  October.  Nothing 
can  be  more  desolate  or  repulsive  than  the  appearance  of  the 
exterior  of  the  island.  When  we  had  anchored,  it  was  expected 
that  Napoleon  would  have  been  invited  to  stop  at  Plantation 
House,  the  country-seat  of  the  governor,  until  a  house  could 
have  been  got  ready  for  him  ;  as  heretofore  passengers  of  dis- 
tinction had  invariably  been  asked  to  pass  the  time  they  re- 
mained on  the  island  there.  Some  forcible  reason  possibly 
existed,  as  this  courtesy  was  not  extended  to  him. 

On  the  evening  of  the  17th,  about  seven  o'clock.  Napoleon 
landed  at  James  Town,  accompanied  by  the  admiral,  Count  and 
Countess  Bertrand,  Las  Cases,  Count  and  Countess  Montholon, 
&c.,  and  proceeded  to  a  house  belonging  to  a  gentleman  named 
Porteous,  which  had  been  taken  for  that  purpose  by  the  admiral, 
and  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  town.  It  was  not,  however,  free 
from  inconvenience,  as  Napoleon  could  not  make  his  appearance 


6  A    V>'irK    FIMM    ST     HKl-KNA. 

nt  thi  \\  iixlows,  or  fvin  di-sri'ini  (Vnm  his  licd-c-haiiilu'r,  without 
lioing  (XpostMl  to  tho  null'  aiul  ar«h'iit  giize  of  those  who  wished 
to  gratify  their  ourio>flty  with  a  si^lit  of  the  iinporial  (•aj)tivo. 
There  was  no  house  in  the  town  at  all  calcnlated  for  privacy, 
except  the  governor's,  to  which  there  belonged  a  court,  and  in 
front  there  was  a  walk  ujxm  the  ramparts  facing  the  sea,  and 
'•verli>okiiig  the  Marino,  which  proximity  to  the  ocean  probably 
was  the  cause  of  it-s  not  having  l»een  selected  for  him. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  island  were  in  very  anxious  expecta- 
tion during  the  greatest  part  of  the  day  to  obtain  a  sight  of  (hi; 
exiled  ruler  when  he  should  make  his  entree  to  the  place  of  iils 
confinement.  Numbers  of  persons  of  every  description  crowded 
the  Marino,  the  street,  and  the  houses  by  which  he  was  to  pass, 
in  the  eager  hope  of  catching  a  glimpse  of  him.  The  expectations 
of  most  of  them  were  however  disappointed,  as  he  did  not  land 
until  after  sun-set,  at  which  time,  the  majority  of  the  islanders, 
tired  of  waiting,  and  supposing  that  his  landing  was  deferred 
until  the  following  morning,  had  retired  to  their  homes.  It  was 
also  at  this  time  nearly  impossible  to  recognize  his  person. 

Counts  Bertrand  and  Montholon,  with  their  ladies.  Count  Las 
Cases  and  son.  General  Gotirgaud  and  myself,  were  also  accom- 
modated in  Mr.  Porteous's  house. 

At  a  very  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  Napoleon, 
accompanied  by  the  admiral  and  Las  Cases,  proceeded  up  to 
Longwood,  a  country  seat  of  the  lieut.  governor's,  which  he  was 
informed  was  the  spot  that  was  deemed  the  most  proper  for  his 
future  residence.  He  was  mounted  on  a  spirited  little  V)lack 
horse,  which  was  lent  for  the  occasion  by  the  governor.  Colonel 
Wilks.  On  his  way  up  he  observed  a  neat  little  spot  called  the 
Briars,  situated  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  road,  belong- 
ing to  a  gentleman  named  Balcombe,  who,  he  was  informed,  was 
to  be  his  purveyor,  and  appeared  pleased  with  its  romantic 
situation. 

Longwood  is  situated  on  a  plain  formed  on  the  summit  of  a 
mountain  about  eighteen  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea; 
and  including  Deadwood,  comprises  fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred 
acres  of  land,  a  great  part  of  which  is  planted  with  an  indigenoui 


1815— OCTOBER.  7 

tree  called  gumwood.  Its  appearance  is  sombre  and  unproniis- 
ing.  Napoleon,  howevei-,  said  that  he  would  be  more  cou 
tented  to  fix  his  residence  there,  than  to  remain  in  the  town  as  a 
mark  for  the  prying  curiosity  of  importunate  spectators.  Un 
fortunately  the  house  only  consisted  ot  five  rooms  on  a  ground 
floor,  which  had  been  built  one  after  the  other,  according  to  the 
wants  of  the  family,  and  without  any  regard  to  either  order  or 
convenience,  aud  were  totally  inadequate  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  himself  and  his  suite.  Several  additions  were  conse- 
quently necessary,  which  it  was  evident  could  not  be  accom- 
plished for  some  weeks,  even  under  the  superintendence  of  so 
active  an  officer  as  Sir  George  Cockburn.  Upon  his  return  from 
Longwood,  Napoleon  proceeded  to  the  Briars,  and  intimated  to 
Sir  George  that  he  would  prefer  remaining  there,  until  the 
necessary  additions  were  made  to  Longwood,  to  returning  to 
town,  provided  the  proprietor's  consent  could  be  obtained.  This 
request  was  immediately  granted.  The  Briars  is  the  name  of  an 
estate  romantically  situated  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  James 
Town,  comprising  a  few  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  excellent 
fruit  and  kitchen  gardens,  plentifully  supplied  with  water, 
adorned  with  many  delightful  shady  walks,  and  long  celebrated 
for  the  genuine  old  English  hospitality  of  the  proprietor,  Mr. 
Balcombe.  About  twenty  yards  from  the  dwelling  house  stood 
a  little  pavilion,  consisting  of  one  good  room  on  the  ground- 
floor,  and  two  garrets,  which  Napoleon,  not  willing  to  cause  any 
inconvenience  to  the  family  of  his  host,  selected  for  his  abode. 
Fn  the  lower  room  his  camp-bed  was  put  up,  and  in  this  room  he 
ate,  slept,  read,  and  dictated  a  portion  of  his  eventful  life.  Las 
Cases  and  his  son  were  accommodated  in  one  of  the  garrets 
above,  and  Napoleon's  premier  valet  de  chambre,  and  others  of 
his  household,  slept  in  the  other,  and  upon  the  floor  in  the  little 
hall  opposite  the  entrance  of  the  lower  room.  At  first  his 
dinner  was  sent  ready  cooked  from  the  town  ;  but  afterwards, 
Mr.  Balcombe  found  means  to  get  a  kitchen  fitted  up  for  his  use. 
The  accommodations  were  so  insufficient,  that  Napoleon  fre- 
quently walked  out  after  he  had  finished  his  dinner,  in  order  to 


8  A    VOICK    FUOM    ST.    IIKI-KNA. 

allt'W  his  dotnc-slii^  an  opportimit}'  o\  nitiiig  tlifiis  in  tlio  room 
\riiicb  ho  had  just  quitted. 

Mr.  Buloonibo'.s  family  iH>nsistod  of  his  wife,  two  daughters, 
v«no  about  Iwoivo,  and  the  other  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  two 
b4.>ys  of  five  of  six.  The  young  hidies  spoke  Krcncli  fluently, 
and  Napoleon  frequently  dropt  in  to  play  a  rnltber  of  whist  or 
hold  a  little  conversazione.  On  one  occasion  he  indulged  them 
by  participating  in  a  game  of  blindman's  bull',  very  much  to  the 
Muust>meut  of  Che  yiHiiig  ladies.  Nothing  was  left  undone  by 
ibis  worthy  family  that  could  contribute  to  lessen  the  inconve- 
niences of  his  situation.  A  captain  of  artillery  resided  at  the 
Briars  as  orderly  ofllcer,  and  at  first  a  sergeant  and  some  soldiers 
were  also  stationed  there  as  an  additional  secAirity  ;  but  upon  a 
remonstrance  being  made  to  Sir  George  Cockburn,  the  latter, 
convinced  of  their  inutility,  ordered  them  to  be  removed. 
Counts  Bertrand  and  Montholon,  with  their  respective  ladies  and 
children,  Gen.  Gourgaud,  and  myself,  lived  together  at  Mr. 
Porteous's,  where  a  suitable  table  in  the  French  style  was  pro- 
vided l»y  Mr.  Balcoinbe.  When  any  of  them  were  desirous  of 
paying  a  visit  to  the  Briars,  or  of  going  out  of  the  town  else- 
where, no  further  restriction  was  imposed  upon  them,  than 
cjHising  them  to  be  accompanied  by  myself  or  by  some  other 
British  officer,  or  followed  by  a  soldier.  In  this  manner,  they 
were  permitted  to  visit  any  part  of  the  island  they  pleased,  ex- 
cept the  forts  and  batteries.  They  were  visited  by  Cokmel  and 
Mrs.  Wilks,  Lieutenant-colonel  and  Mrs.  Skelton,  the  members 
of  council,  and  by  most  of  the  respectable  inhabitants,  and  the 
officers,  both  military  and  naval,  belonging  to  the  garrison  and 
3Cuadron,  and  by  their  wt«ves  and  faniilics.  Little  evening  par- 
ties were  occasionally  given  by  the  French  to  their  visitors,  and 
matters  were  managed  in  such  a  manner  that  there  was  not 
much  appearance  of  constraint.  Sometimes  the  Countesses  I'er- 
Irand  and  Montholon,  accompanied  by  one  or  two  casual  island 
vi.siters,  passed  an  hour  or  two  in  viewing  and  occasionally  pur- 
chasing some  of  the  productions  of  the  East  and  of  Europe, 
exhiy)ited  in  the  shops  of  the  tradesmen :  which,  though  far  from 
oflTering   the   variety    or   the   magnificence  of  those  of  the  Rue 


1816 — DECEMBER.  9 

Vivienne,  tended  nevertheless  to  distraire  them  a  little  from  the 
tedious  monotony  of  a  St.  Helena  residence. 

Sir  George  Cockburn  gave  several  well  attended  balls,  to  all 
of  which  they  were  invited  ;  and  where,  with  the  exception  of 
Napoleon,  they  frequently  went.  Attention  was  paid  to  their 
feelings ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  matters,  if  not  entirely  satisfoc- 
tory  to  them  upon  some  points,  were  at  least  placed  upon  such 
a  footing  as  to  render  their  existence  tolerable,  had  not  the 
island  in  itself  presented  so  many  local  wants  and  miseries.  It 
would  perhaps,  have  been  much  better  and  more  consistent  with 
propriety,  had  Napoleon  been  accommodated  at  Plantation 
House,  until  the  repairs  and  additions  making  to  Longwood 
were  finished,  instead  of  being  so  indifferently  provided  for  in 
point  of  lodging  as  he  was  at  the  Briars.  I  must,  however,  do 
the  admiral  the  justice  to  say,  that  upon  this  point  I  have  reason 
to  believe  his  hands  were  tied  up.  In  the  mean  time,  no  exer- 
tions were  spared  by  Sir  George  Cockburn  to  enlarge  and  im- 
prove the  old  building  of  Longwood,  so  as  to  render  it  capable 
of  containing  so  great  an  increase  of  inmates.  For  this  purpose, 
all  the  workmen,  not  only  of  the  squadron,  but  in  the  island,  were 
put  in  requisition  ;  and  Longwood  for  nearly  two  months  pre- 
sented as  busy  a  scene  as  ever  has  been  witnessed  during  the 
war,  in  any  of  his  majesty's  dock-yards  whilst  a  fleet  was  fitting 
out  under  the  personal  directions  of  some  of  our  first  naval  com- 
manders. The  admiral,  indefatigable  in  his  exertions,  was  fre- 
quently seen  to  arrive  at  Longwood  shortly  after  sunrise,  stimu- 
lating by  his  presence  the  St.  Helena  workmen,  who,  lazy  and 
indolent  in  general,  beheld  with  astonishment  the  dispatch  and 
activity  of  a  man-of-war  succeed  to  the  characteristic  idleness, 
which,  until  then,  they  had  been  accustomed  both  to  witness  and 
to  practice. 

Every  day  bodies  of  two  or  three  hundred  seamen  were  em 
ployed  in  carrying  up  from  James  Town,  timber  and  other  mate- 
rials for  building,  together  with  furniture,  which,  though  the  best 
was  purchased  at  an  enormous  expense  wherever  it  could  be 
procured,  was  paltry  and  old-fashioned.  So  deficient  was  the 
island  in   tlie  means  of  transport,  that   almost  everything,  even 

1* 


10  A    VOICK    HU)M    ST.    UKI.KN'A. 

tJjt'  vory  stoin's  tor  t>iiil(lii)^,  wi-r*'  raiiifd  iip  the  steep  sidf-jmth 
on  tho  hfjuls  aiiil  shoulders  of  tho  soaiiu'ii,  ocnisiomilly  assisted 
l»y  fsiti^iie  partii's  of  the  fiftv-lhird  re<<;iiiieiit.  H)  iin-ans  of 
imx»ssjiiit  hihor,  Lungwood  Ilnuse  was  enlar<.;ed  so  as  to  julmit, 
on  the  l>th  of  Pecemher,  Napoleon  and  j>ail  of  his  ht)Usehold, 
Count  and  Countess  Montholon  and  cliildren,  Count  and  youni; 
Liis  Cases. 

Napoleon  himself  had  a  small  narrow  Itcd-room  on  the  ground- 
lUwr,  a  writing-room  of  the  same  dimensions,  and  a  sort  of  a 
small  anteehamhcr,  in  which  a  hath  was  put  uj).  The  writing- 
room  opened  into  a  dark  and  low  apartment,  whiih  was  con- 
verted into  a  dining-room.  The  opposite  wing  consisted  of  a 
bed-room,  larger  than  that  of  Napoleon's,  which,  with  an  ante- 
chamber and  closet,  formed  the  accommodation  for  Coimt  and 
C^iuntess  Montholon  and  son.  From  the  dining-room  a  door  led 
to  a  drawing-room,  about  eighteen  feet  by  fifteen.  In  prolonga- 
tion of  this,  one  longer,  much  higher,  and  more  airy,  was  built 
of  wood  by  Sir  George  Cockburn,  with  three  windows  on  each 
side,  and  a  veranda  leading  to  the  garden.  This,  although  it 
labored  under  the  inconvenience  of  becoming  intolerably  hot 
towards  the  evening,  whenever  the  sun  shone  forth  in  tropical 
splendor,  by  the  rays  penetrating  the  wood  of  which  it  was  com- 
posed, was  the  only  good  room  in  the  building.  Las  Cases  had 
a  room  next  the  kitchen,*  which  had  formerly  been  occupied  by 
some  of  Colonel  Skelton's  servants,  through  the  ceiling  of  which 
an  opening  was  cut  so  as  to  admit  a  very  narrow  stair,  which  led 
to  a  sort  of  cockloft  above,  where  his  son  reposed.  The  garrets 
over  the  old  building  were  flijored  and  converted  into  apartments 
for  Marchand,  Cipriani,  St.  Denis,  Josephine,  &c.  From  the 
sloping  structure  of  the  roof,  it  was  impossible  to  stand  upright 
in  those  garrets,  unless  in  the  centre,  and  the  sun,  penetrating 
through   the   slating,  rendered  them  occasionally   insupportalily 

•  Some  time  nftcrwards  an  apartment  wa-s  bnilt  for  the  count  and  liis  son  at 
the  tack  of  tlie  liouso,  wliioh  was  !<nbs'>qiiPntly  divided  into  a  bed  and  sitliiij- 
room,  witli  one  for  li>eir  servant.  Tliey  were  so  small  that  tliere  wa.s  not  room 
for  a  chair  lietween  tlie  Ije  Jsteads  of  the  liitlier  and  son  ;  and  so  low,  that  tb< 
ceiling  oould  '<c  tuuchcd  by  a  perbon  standing  on  the  floor. 


1815 — DECEMBER,  ll 

hot.  Additional  rooms  were  constructing  fur  them,  und  foi 
General  Gourgaud,  the  orderly  officer,  and  myself,  who,  in  the 
meantime,  were  accommodated  with  tents.  Lieutenant  Blood, 
and  Mr.  Cooper,  carpenter  of  the  Northumberland,  with  several 
artificers  from  the  ship,  also  resided  upon  the  premises ;  the  two 
former  under  an  old  studding-sail,  which  had  been  converted  into 
a  tent.  A  very  liberal  table  (considering  St.  Helena)  was  found 
by  order  of  Sir  George  Cockburn,  for  the  orderly  officers  and 
myself. 

Count  and  Countess  Bertrand  and  family  were  lodged  in  a 
little  house  at  Hut's  Gate,  about  a  mile  from  Longwood,  which, 
though  uncomfortable,  was  nevertheless  hired  at  their  own 
request,  and  was  the  only  one  which  could  be  procured  at  a 
moderate  rate  in  the  neighborhood,  as  it  was  found  impossible 
to  accommodate  them  at  Longwood  until  a  new  house,  the  foun- 
dation of  which  was  immediately  laid  down  by  Sir  George  Cock- 
burn,  could  be  finished. 

During  the  time  that  Napoleon  resided  at  the  Briars,  I  kept 
no  regular  journal,  and  consequently  can  give  only  a  brief  out- 
line of  what  took  place.  His  time  was  occupied  principally  in 
dictating  to  Las  Cases  and  his  son,  or  to  Counts  Bertrand,  Mon- 
tholon  and  Gourgaud,  some  of  whom  daily  visited  him.  He 
occasionally  received  some  visitors,  who  came  to  pay  their 
respects  to  him  on  the  lawn  before  the  house ;  and  in  a  few 
instances,  some  who  had  received  that  permission  were  presented 
to  him,  when  at  Mr,  Balcombe's  in  the  evening.  During  the 
whole  time  he  was  there,  he  never  left  the  grounds  but  once, 
when  he  strolled  down  to  the  little  residence  of  Major  Hudson, 
of  the  St.  Helena  regiment,  where  he  conversed  with  the  Major 
and  Mrs.  Hodson  for  half  an  hour,  taking  great  notice  cf  their 
children,  who  were  extremely  handsome.  He  frequently,  how- 
ever, walked  for  hours  in  the  shady  paths  and  shruliberies  of  the 
Briars,  where  care  was  taken  to  prevent  his  being  intruded  upon. 
During  one  of  these  walks,  he  stopped  and  pointed  out  to  me 
the  frightful  precipices  which  environed  us,  and  said,  "  Behold 
your  country's  generosity,  this  is  their  liberality  to  the  unfortu- 
nate  man,  who   Ijlindly   relying   on  what  he  so  falsely  imagined 


U  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    HELENA. 

♦.o  be  their  national  c>liaiaot«'r,  in  an  evil  h«»ur  unsuspectingly  cou 
f\6vi\  himself  to  tliein.  I  once  thouj^ht  that  you  \ver«  t'ree :  1 
now  see  that  yi)ur  ministers  laugh  at  your  laws,  which  are  like 
those  of  other  nations,  formed  only  to  oppress  the  <li-fi;iiseless. 
and  screen  the  powerful,  whenever  your  government  lias  any 
object  in  view." 

At  another  time  he  discovered  through  the  interpretation  of 
Las  Oises,  that  an  old  Malay,  who  was  hired  by  Mr.  Balcombe 
as  gardener,  had  been  entrapped  from  his  native  place  on  board 
of  an  English  ship  several  years  before,  brought  to  St.  Helena, 
smuggled  on  shore,  illegally  sold  for  a  slave,  let  out  to  whoever 
would  hire  him,  and  his  earnings  chiefly  a[)propriated  to  his 
master.  This  he  communicated  to  the  admiral,  who  immediately 
set  on  foot  an  inquiry  ;  the  probable  result  would  have  been 
the  emancipation  of  poor  Toby,  had  the  admiral  remained  in 
command.* 

Arrangements  were  made  with  the  purveyor  to  supply  certain 
quantities  of  provisions,  wines,  die.  The  scale  of  allowances 
was  liberal,  and  such  as  was  deemed  sufficient  for  the  service 
of  the  house  by  Cipriani,  the  maitre  d'hutel.  It  is  true,  that 
sometimes  the  provisions  were  deficient  in  quantity  or  bad  in 
quality,  but  this  was  often  caused  either  by  the  absojlute  want  of 
resources  on  the  island,  or  by  accident,  and  was  generally  reme- 
died wherever  such  remedy  could  be  applied,  by  Sir  George 
Cockburn. 

A  space  of  about  twelve  miles  in  circumference  was  allotted 
to  Napoleon,  within  which  he  might  ride  or  walk,  without  being 
accompanied  by  a  British  officer.  Within  this  space  was  placed 
the  camp  of  the  53d,  at  Deadwood,  about  a  mile  from  Long- 
wood  house,  and  another  at  Hut's  Gate,  opposite  Bertrand's, 
close  to  whose  door  there  was  an  officer's  guard.  An  arrange- 
ment was  made  with  Bertrand,  by  means  of  which  persons  fur- 

♦  When  Napoleon  discovered,  some  time  after  the  departure  of  Sir  George 
Cockbain,  that  the  poor  man  liad  not  been  emancipated,  he  directed  Mr.  Bal- 
combe to  purchase  him  from  his  masitcr,  set  him  at  liberty,  and  charge  the 
junonnt  to  Count  Bertrand's  private  account.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  however, 
honi^ht  proper  to  prohibit  this,  and  the  man  was  still  in  a  elate  of  slavery  wbei 
i  left  BU  Helena. 


1815 — DECEMBER.  13 

nished  with  a  pass  from  him,  had  permission  to  enter  Longwood 
grounds.  This  was  not  productive  of  inconvenience,  as  no 
person  could,  in  the  first  instance,  go  to  Bertrand's  without  per- 
mission from  the  admiral,  the  governor,  or  Sir  George  Bingham, 
and  consequently  no  improper  persons  were  permitted  to  have 
access  to  him.  The  French  also  were  allowed  to  send  sealed 
letters  to  the  inhabitants  and  others  residing  upon  the  island,  a 
•■egulation  not  likely  to  prove  injurious,  as  it  was  evident  that  if 
they  wished  to  transmit  letters  to  Europe,  this  could  only  be 
attempted  after  previous  arrangements  having  been  made  ;  and  it 
was  highly  improbable  that  they  would  send,  through  the  medium 
of  an  English  servant,  or  dragoon,  letters,  the  contents  of  which 
would  compromise  either  themselves  or  their  friends,  when  the 
more  simple  and  natural  mode  of  delivering  them  personally  to 
the  individuals  for  whom  they  were  intended  was  entirely  in 
their  power,  and  with  whom  they  were  at  liberty  to  visit  and 
converse  with  at  pleasure.* 

A  subaltern's  guard  was  posted  at  the  entrance  of  Longwood, 
about  six  hundred  paces  from  the  house,  and  a  cordon  of  senti- 
nels and  picquets,  were  placed  round  the  limits.  At  nine  o'clock 
the  sentinels  were  drawn  in  and  stationed  in  communication  with 
each  other ;  surrounding  the  house  in  such  positions,  that  no  per- 
son could  come  in  or  go  out  without  being  seen  and  scrutinized 
by  them.  At  the  entrance  of  the  house,  double  sentinels  were 
placed,  and  patroles  were  continually  passing  backward  and  for 
ward.  After  nine.  Napoleon  was  not  at  liberty  to  leave  the 
house,  unless  in  company  with  a  field  ofiicer  ;  and  no  person 
whatever  was  allowed  to  pass  without  the  counter-sign.  This 
state  of  affairs  continued  until  daylight  in  the  morning.  Every 
.anding-place  in  the  island,  and  indeed,  every  place  which  pre- 
sented the  semblance  of  one,  was  furnished  with  a  picquet,  and 
sentinels  were  even  placed  upon  every  goat-path  leading  to  the 
sea,  though  in  truth,  the  obstacles  presented  by  nature  in  almost 

*  A  strong  proof  of  this  is,  that  during  tlie  nine  months  Sir  George  Coekburn 
had  this  system  put  in  force,  not  a  single  letter  was  ever  sent  to  Europe,  unlesa 
Ihroii^li  the  regular  government  channels. 


U  A    VOICK    FKOM    ST.    MKLEN'A. 

all  tlu>  paths  ill  that  irni'«tlt>ii.  w.niM.  (if  tluiiist>lvi's,  have  pnived 
insuriuountaliU^  to  so  iiinvirhly  ii  porsoii  us  N!i|)oleou. 

From  tho  various  sifinal  posts  on  the  islam!,  ships  art'  fViHpKMit- 
l_v  ilisoovofiHl  at  twoiity-foiir  loaijtu's'  distance,  and  always  long 
boforo  thov  i-an  approach  tht"  shori-.  Two  ships  of  war  coiiliii- 
uallv  ornized,  one  to  windward  and  thi-  uthrr  ti>  leewanl.  t«>  which 
siijnals  were  made  as  soon  as  a  vesst-l  was  discovertd  frmii  the 
pKsts  on  shore.  Every  ship,  except  a  British  man-of-war,  was 
at'0«>inpaiiieil  down  to  the  road  by  one  of  the  cruizers,  who  re- 
mained with  her  until  she  was  either  permitted  to  anchoi  or  was 
sent  away.  No  foreign  vessels  were  allowed  to  anchor  unless 
uniler  oireumstanees  of  great  distress,  in  which  case  no  person 
from  them  was  permitted  to  land,  and  an  officer  and  party  from 
t>ne  of  the  ships  of  war  was  sent  on  board  to  take  charge  of 
thfiii  as  long  as  they  remained,  as  well  as  in  order  to  prevent 
any  improper  communication.  Every  fishing-boat  belonging  to 
the  island  was  numbered,  and  anchored  every  evening  at  sun-sot, 
under  the  superintendence  of  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy.  No  boats, 
excepting  guard-boats  from  the  ships  of  war,  which  pulled  about 
the  island  all  night,  were  allowed  to  be  down  after  sun-set.  The 
orderly  officer  was  also  instructed  to  ascertain  the  actual  presence 
of  Napoleon,  twice  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  which  was  done 
with  as  much  delicacy  as  possible.  In  fact,  every  human  pre- 
caution to  prevent  escape,  short  of  actually  incarcerating,  or  en- 
(haining  him  was  adopted  by  Sir  George  Cockburn. 

The  officers  of  the  53d,  and  several  of  the  most  respectable 
inhabitants,  the  officers  of  the  St.  Helena  corps  and  their  wives, 
were  introduced  to  Napoleon,  at  whose  table,  some  were  weekly 
invited  to  dine,  and  among  them,  Mr.  Doveton,  Miss  Doveton, 
Colonel  and  Mrs.  Skelton,  Captain  and  Mrs.  Younghusband,  Mr. 
Balcombe  and  family,  &c.  Officers  and  other  respectable  pas- 
sengers from  India  and  China,  came  in  numbers  to  Longwood,  to 
reqtiest  a  presentation  to  the  fallen  chief,  in  which  expectation 
they  were  rarely  disappointed,  unless  indisposition  on  his  part, 
or  the  shortness  of  their  stay  on  the  island  prevented  it.  Many 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  who  came  up  at  an  inconvenient  time,  have 
remained    in   my   room   long  after  the  fore-topsail   of  the  ahip, 


1815 — DECEMBER.  l6 

which  was  to  waft  them  to  England  was  loosed,  in  the  hope  of 
Napoleon's  presenting  himself  at  the  windows  of  his  apartments. 
I  have  frequently  tieen  unable  to  withstand  the  solicitations  of 
more  than  one  anxious  fair  expectant  to  place  some  of  the  ser- 
vants  of  the  house  in  a  situation  where  they  might  be  enabled 
to  apprise  them  of  his  approach  to  the  windows  or  door  of  the 
drawing-room,  whereby  they  might  be  afforded  an  opportunity 
of  stealing  a  glance  at  the  renowned  captive. 

Some  short  time  after  his  arrival  at  Longwood,  I  communicat 
ed  to  him  the  news  of  Murat's  death.  He  heai'd  it  with  calm- 
ness, and  immediately  demanded,  if  he  had  perished  on  the  field 
of  battle?  At  first,  I  hesitated  to  tell  him  that  his  brother-in- 
law  had  been  executed  like  a  criminal.  On  his  repeating  the 
question,  I  informed  him  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been 
put  to  death,  which  he  listened  to  without  any  change  of  counte- 
nance. I  also  communicated  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of 
Ney.  "  He  was  a  brave  man,  nobody  more  so  ;  l)ut  he  was  a 
madman,"  said  he.  "  He  has  died  without  having  the  esteem  of 
mankind.  He  betrayed  me  at  Fontainebleau  :  the  proclamation 
against  the  Bourbons,  which  he  said  in  his  defense  1  caused  to  be 
given  him,  was  written  by  himself,  and  I  never  knew  anything 
about  that  document  until  it  was  read  to  the  troops.  It  is  true 
that  I  sent  him  orders  to  obey  me.  What  could  he  do?  His 
troops  abandoned  him.  Not  only  the  troops,  but  the  people 
wished  to  join  me." 

I  had  lent  him  Miss  Williams'  "  Present  State  of  France"  to 
read.  Two  or  three  days  afterwards  he  said  to  me,  while  dress- 
ing, "  That  is  a  vile  production  of  that  lady  of  yours.  It  is  :i 
heap  of  falsehoods.  This,"  opening  his  shirt,  and  showing  his 
flannel  waistcoat,  "  is  the  only  coat  of  mail  I  ever  wore.  JSIy 
hat  lined  with  steel  too!  There  is  the  hat  I  wore,"  pointing  to 
the  one  he  always  carried.  "  Oh,  she  has  doubtless  been  well 
paid  for  all  the  malice  and  falsehoods  she  has  poured  forth." 

Nap(ileon's  hours  of  rising  were  uncertain,  much  depending  upon 
the  quantum  of  rest  he  had  enjoyed  during  the  night.  He  was 
in  general  a  bad  sleeper,  and  frequently  got  up  at  three  or  four 
o'clock,  in   which   case   he   read  or   wrote   until  six  or  seven,  at 


1^  A    VOICE   FHOM   ST.    HKLKVA. 

which  tiino,  vNhi'ii  tlu'  wi'.-itlior  was  liiic,  ln>  soiin'tiiiH>s  went  •»»( 
to  ridi\  nttendod  l>y  somo  of  his  j^cnornls,  or  laid  down  u<jain  to 
rest  for  a  coupK'  of  hours,  Wht-n  ho  retired  to  hod,  ho  could 
not  sleep  unless  the  most  perfect  state  of  darkness  was  t)l>tained, 
l>v  the  closure  of  every  cranny  through  which  a  ray  of  light 
might  pass,  although  I  have  sometimes  seen  him  fall  asleep  ot 
the  sofa,  and  renuiin  so  tor  a  few  minutes  in  Itroad  daylight 
When  ill,  Marchand  occasionally  read  to  him  until  he  fell  asleep 
At  times  he  rose  at  seven,  and  wrote  or  dictated  until  breakfast 
time,  or,  if  the  morning  was  very  fine,  he  went  out  to  ride. 
When  he  breakfasted  in  his  own  room,  it  was  generally  served 
on  a  little  round  table,  at  between  nine  and  ten ;  when  along 
with  the  rest  of  his  suite,  at  eleven  :  in  either  case  ii  la  foxirchette . 
Al'ter  breakfast,  he  generally  dictated  to  some  of  his  suite  for  a 
few  hmirs,  aJid  at  two  or  three  o'clock  received  such  visitors,  as 
by  previous  appointment  had  been  directed  to  present  themselves. 
Between  four  and  five,  when  the  weather  permitted,  he  rode  out 
on  horseback  or  in  the  carriage,  accompanied  by  all  his  suite,  for 
an  hour  or  two;  then  returned  and  dictated  or  read  until  eight, 
or  occasionally  played  a  game  at  chess,  at  which  time  dinner 
was  announced,  which  rarely  exceeded  twenty  minutes  or  hulf  an 
hour  in  duration.  He  ate  heartily  and  fast,  and  did  not  appear 
to  be  partial  to  high  seasoned  or  rich  food.  One  of  his  most 
favorite  dishes  was  a  roasted  leg  of  mutton,  of  which  I  have 
seen  him  sometimes  pare  the  outside  brown  part  oft';  he  was 
also  partial  to  mutton  chops.  He  rarely  drank  as  much  as  a  pint 
of  claret  at  his  dinner,  which  was  generally  much  diluted  with 
water.  After  dinner,  when  the  servants  had  withdrawn,  and 
when  there  were  no  visitors,  he  sometimes  played  at  chess  or  at 
whist,  but  more  frequently  sent  for  a  volume  of  Corneille,  or  of 
some  other  esteemed  author,  and  read  aloud  for  an  hour,  or 
chatted  with  the  ladies  and  the  rest  of  his  suite.  He  usually 
retired  to  his  bed-room  at  ten  or  eleven,  and  to  rest,  immediately 
afterwards.  When  he  breakfasted  or  dined  in  his  own  aparl- 
rnent  {dans  V  interieur,)  he  sometimes  sent  for  one  of  his  suite 
to  converse  with  him  during  the  repast.  He  never  ate  more  than 
two  meals  a  day,  nor,  since  1  knew  him,  had  ho  ever  taken  mor« 


1816 — APRIL.  17 

than  a  very  small  cup  of  coftee  after  each  repast,  and  at  no  other 
time.  I  have  also  been  informed,  by  those  who  have  been  in  his 
service  for  fifteen  years,  that  he  never  exceeded  that  quantity 
since  they  first  knew  him. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  the  Phaeton  frigate,  Captain  Stanfell, 
arrived  from  England,  having  on  board  Lieut.-General  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe,  Lady  Lowe,  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  Deputy  Adjt.- 
General,  Major  Gorrequer,  aid-de-camp  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe, 
Lieut.-Colonel  Lyster,  inspector  of  militia,  Major  Emmett  of 
the  engineers,  Mr.  Baxter,  deputy  inspector  of  hospitals.  Lieu- 
tenants Wortham  and  Jackson  of  the  engineers  and  staff"  corps, 
and  other  officers.  The  following  day,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  landed, 
and  was  installed  as  governor,  with  the  customary  forms.  A 
message  was  then  sent  to  Longwood  that  the  new  governor 
would  visit  Napoleon  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  following  morning. 
Accordingly,  a  little  before  that  time,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  arrived, 
in  the  midst  of  a  pelting  storm  of  rain  and  wind,  accompanied  by 
Sir  George  Cockburn,  and  followed  by  his  numerous  staff".  As 
the  hour  fixed  upon  was  rather  unseasonable,  and  one,  at  which 
Napoleon  had  never  received  any  person,  intimation  was  given 
to  the  governor  on  his  arrival,  that  Napoleon  was  indisposed, 
and  could  not  receive  any  visitors  that  morning.  This  appeared 
to  disconcert  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who,  after  pacing  up  and  down 
before  the  windows  of  the  drawing-room  for  a  few  minutes,  de- 
manded at  what  time  on  the  following  day  he  could  be  intro- 
duced :  two  o'clock  was  fixed  upon  for  the  interview,  at  which 
time  he  arrived,  accompanied  as  before  by  the  admiral,  and  fol- 
lowed by  his  staff".  They  were  at  first  ushered  into  the  dining- 
room,  behind  which  was  the  saloon,  where  they  were  to  be  re- 
ceived. A  proposal  was  made  by  Sir  George  Cockburn,  to  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  that  the  latter  should  be  introduced  by  him,  as 
being,  in  his  opinion,  the  most  official  and  proper  manner  of  re- 
signing to  him  the  charge  of  the  prisoner;  for  which  purpose,  Sii 
George  suggested,  that  they  should  enter  the  room  together. 
This  was  acceded  to  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe.  At  the  door  of  the 
drawing-room  stood  Novarre,  one  of  the  French  valets,  whose 
business  '"*  was  to  announce  the  names  of  the  persons  introduood. 


18  A    V«>U'K    KKoM    SI.    IIKLKNA. 

Aftrr  wnltil)g  ft  fvv,  iiiiiiiitis,  llif  ilonr  was  u|>iiiiil  jiinl  tho  go 
vornor  onllrd  for.  As  soini  as  tlu-  word,  i^ovi-nior,  was  jiro- 
nouiuvd,  Sir  Iliidsoii  Luwi'  started  up,  and  stcitju-d  forward  so 
hastily  that  he  I'litorod  tho  room  luforeSir  Cu'orj^'e  Coc-kbiirii  was 
well  apprised  of  it.  The  door  was  then  elosed,  and  whi'ii  the 
Hdiniral  presented  himself,  the  valet,  not  having  lu-ard  his  name 
railed,  told  him  that  he  could  not  enter.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  re- 
mained about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  with  Napoleon,  during  which 
lime,  a  conversation  was  chiefly  carried  on  in  Italian,  and  subse- 
quently, the  *)fllcers  of  his  staff  were  inlrodiiecd.  The  admiral 
did  not  jigain  apidy  for  admittance. 

On  the  18th  I  brought  up  some  newspapers  to  Napoleon,  who, 
after  asking  me  some  questions  concerning  the  meeting  of  parlia- 
ment, inquired  who  had  lent  the  newspapers?  I  replied  the 
admiral  had  lent  them  to  me.  Napoleon  said,  "  I  believe  that 
he  was  rather  ill-treated  the  day  he  came  up  with  the  new 
governor,  what  does  he  say  about  it?"  1  replied,  "the  admiral 
conceived  it  was  an  insult  offered  to  him,  and  certainly  felt 
greatly  offended  at  it.  Some  explanation  has,  however,  been 
given  by  General  Montholon  upon  the  subject."  Napoleon  said, 
"  I  shall  never  see  him  with  pleasure,  but  he  did  not  announce 
himself  as  being  desirous  of  seeing  me."  1  replied,  "he  wished 
to  introduce  officially  to  you  the  new  governor,  and  thought, 
that,  as  he  was  to  act  in  that  capacity,  it  was  not  necessary  to  be 
previously  announced."  Napoleon  answered,  "  He  should  have 
sent  me  word  that  he  wanted  to  see  me  by  Bertrand  ;  but,"  con- 
tinued he,  "he  wished  to  enibroil  me  with  the  new  governor, 
jnd  for  that  purpose  persuaded  him  to  come  up  here  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  though  he  well  knew  that  I  never  had 
received  any  persons,  or  never  would,  at  that  hour.  It  is  a  pity 
that  a  man,  who  really  has  talents,  for  1  l)elieve  him  to  be  a  very 
good  officer  in  his  own  service,  should  have  In-havcd  in  the 
manner  he  has  done  to  me.  It  shows  the  greatest  want  of 
generosity  to  iiis\ilt  the  unfortunate;  because,  insulting  those, 
who  arc  in  your  power,  and  consequently  can  not  make  any  op- 
position, is  a  certain  sign  of  an  ignoble  mind."  1  said,  that  1 
was  perfectly  convinced   the  whole  was  a  mistake ;  that  the  ad 


1816— APRIL.  10 

miral  never  had  the  smallest  intention  of  insulting  or  emhroillng 
him  with  the  governor.  He  resumed,  "  I,  in  my  misfortunes, 
Bought  an  asylum,  and  instead  of  that  I  have  found  contempt,  ill- 
treatment,  and  insult.  Shortly  after  I  came  on  board  of  his  ship, 
as  I  did  not  wish  to  sit  at  table  for  two  or  three  hours,  guzzling 
down  wine  to  make  myself  drunk,  I  got  up  from  table,  and 
walked  out  upon  deck.  While  I  was  going  out,  he  said,  in  a 
contemptuous  manner,  '  I  believe  the  general  has  never  read 
Lord  Chesterfield ;'  meaning,  that  I  was  deficient  in  politeness, 
and  did  not  know  how  to  conduct  myself  at  table,"  I  endeavored 
to  explain  to  him  that  the  English,  and  above  all,  naval  officers, 
were  not  in  the  habit  of  going  through  many  forms,  and  that  it 
was  wholly  unintentional  on  the  part  of  the  admiral.  "  If,"  said 
he,  "  Sir  George  wanted  to  see  Lord  St.  Vincent,  or  Lord  Keith, 
would  he  not  have  sent  beforehand,  and  asked,  at  what  hour  it 
might  be  convenient  to  see  him  ;  and  should  not  I  be  treated 
with  at  least  as  much  respect  as  either  of  them?  Putting  out  of 
the  question  that  I  have  been  a  crowned  head,  I  think,"  said  he, 
laughing,  "  that  the  actions  which  I  have  performed,  are  at  least 
as  well  known,  as  any  thing  they  have  done."  I  endeavored 
again  to  excuse  the  admiral,  upon  which  he  recalled  to  my  mind, 
what  he  had  just  related  about  Lord  Chesterfield,  and  asked  me, 
"  what  could  that  mean  ?" 

General  Montholon  came  in  at  this  moment  with  a  translation 
of  a  paper  sent  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  which  the  domestics  who 
were  willing  to  remain  were  required  to  sign ;  it  was  accom- 
panied by  the  following  letter: — * 

Downing-st7'eet,  10  Janvier^  1816. 
Je  dois  a  present  vous  faire  connaitre,  que  la  plaisir  de  S.  A. 
R,  le  Prince  Regent,  est,  qu'a  votre  arrivee  a  Ste.  Helene,  vous 
crmmuniqueriez  a,  toutes  les  personnes  de  la  suite  de  Napoleon 
13onaparte,  y  compris  les  serviteurs  domestiques,  qu'ils  sont 
libres  de  quitter  I'isle  immediatement  pour  retourner  en  Europe, 
ftjoutant,  qu'ii  ne  sera  permis  a  aucun  de  rester  a  St.  Helene,  ex- 

*  The  reader  will  not  consider  me  to  be  accountable  for  the  aoouraey  vf  the 
French  sent  from  Plantation  House  to  Longwood . 


20  A    VOICK    Ha>M    ST.    ilKI,ENA. 

3ept^  ceux  qui  dK-laroront  par  iin  6orit  que  sera  d^posd  dans  voa 
mains,  quo  cV.st  Irur  dtsir  do  restor  dans  I'isle  i-L  de  parficipcr 
aux  roi.lriotior.s  qu'il  est  iiec^ssaired'iinposiT  sur  Napolooii  lioiia- 
parte  persumiellenu'iit. 

(Sij;ii6)  Bathukpt. 

(Vux  qui  parini  eux  so  dt'teriniuoruiit  a  rotourner  en  Europe, 
dovront  6tro  onvov6  par  le  premier  occasion  favorable  au  Cap  de 
Bonne  Esp^raiuo,  lo  gouvcrneur  de  cette  colonic  sera  charge  de 
poiirvoir  aux  persoiuies  des  moyens  de  transport  en  Europe.* 
(Sign6)  Bathcrst. 

The  tenor  of  the  accompanying  declaration,  which  the  domes- 
tics were  thus  required  to  sign,  was  not  approved  of  by  Napo- 
leon, who,  moreover,  pronounced  it  to  be  too  literally  translated 
to  be  easily  comprehended  by  a  Frenchman.  He  accordingly 
desired  Count  MonthoK)n  to  retire  into  the  next  room,  where  the 
following  was  sul)stituted  : — "  Nous  sous-signes,  voulant  continuer 
a  rester  au  service  de  S.  M.  I'Empereur  Napoleon,  consentons 
quelqu'affreux  que  soit  le  sejour  de  Ste.  Helene,  k  y  rester,  nous 
soumettant  aux  restrictions,  quoiqu'  injustes  et  arbitraires,  qu'on 
a  imposees  a  S.  M.  et  aux  personnes  de  son  service.  "There," 
said  he,  ''  let  those  who  please  sign  that;  but  do  not  attempt  to 
influence  them,  either  one  way  or  the  other," 

The  demand  made  to  the  domestics  to  sign  the  paper  sent  by 
Sir  H.  Lowe,  had  produced  a  wish  for  further  explanation 
amongst  them  ;  and  some  who  applied  to  Sir  Thomas  Read  for 
that  purpose,  received  answers  of  a  nature  to  inculcate  a  belief 
that  those  who  signed  it  would  be  compelled  to  remain  in  the 
island  during  the  lifetime  of  Bonaparte.  This,  however,  did  not 
prevent  any  of  them  from  signing  the  paper  which  was  presented 
to  them. 

19M. — The  weather  has  been  extremely  bad  for  some  days, 
which  has  contributed,  with  other  circumstances,  to  make  Napo- 
leon a  little  dissatisfied.     *'  In  this  isola  maladetta,'^  (cursed  island) 

*  The  Traaslation  of  this,  and  the  document  sigued  bj  the  domeetios,  will  N 
(bond  ill  the  Appeudix,  No.  II.  aud  IlL 


1816 — APRIL.  11 

Mid  he,  "  there  is  neither  sun  nor  moon  to  be  seen  for  the  great- 
est part  of  the  year.  Constant  rain  and  fog.  It  is  worse  than 
Capri.  Have  you  ever  been  at  Capri  ?"  continued  he.  I  replied 
in  the  affirmative.  "There,"  said  he,  "  you  can  have  everything 
you  want  from  the  continent  in  a  few  hours."  He  afterwards 
made  a  few  remarl<s  upon  some  absurd  falsehoods  which  had 
been  published  in  the  ministerial  papers  respecting  him ;  and 
asked  if  it  were  "possible  that  the  English  could  be  so  fool- 
ishly credulous  as  to  believe  all  the  stuff  we  published  about 
him  f ' 

2lst. — Captain  Hamilton,  of  the  Havana  frigate,  had  an  audi- 
ence with  Napoleon  in  the  garden.  Napoleon  told  him  that 
when  he  (Napoleon)  had  arrived  en  the  island,  he  had  been 
asked  what  he  desired  to  have  1  He  therefore  begged  of  him  to 
say  that  he  desired  his  liberty,  or  le  bourreaux  (the  executioner.) 
That  the  English  ministers  had  unworthily  violated  tl.i4  most 
sacred  rights  of  hospitality  towards  him,  by  declaring  him  a 
prisoner,  which  savages  would  not  have  done  in  the  situation  in 
which  he  stood. 

Colonel  and  Miss  Wilks  were  to  proceed  to  England  in  the 
Havana.  Before  their  departure,  they  came  up  to  Longwood 
and  had  a  long  interview  with  Napoleon.  He  was  highly  pleased 
with  Miss  Wilks  (a  highly  accomplished  and  elegant  young  lady), 
and  gallantly  told  her  that  "  she  exceeded  the  description  which 
had  been  given  of  her  to  him." 

24<A. — The  weather  still  gloomy.  Napoleon  at  first  was  out 
of  spirits,  but  gradually  became  enlivened.  Conversed  much 
about  the  admiral,  whom  he  professed  to  esteem  as  a  man  of 
talent  in  his  profession.  "  He  is  not,"  said  he,  "  a  man  of  a  bad 
heart;  on  the  contrary,  1  believe  him  to  be  capable  of  a  gener- 
ous action  ;  but  he  is  rough,  overbearing,  vain,  choleric,  and 
capricious  ;  never  consulting  anybody  ;  jealous  of  his  authority  ; 
caring  little  of  the  manner  in  which  he  exercises  it,  and  some- 
times violent  without  dignity." 

He  then  made  some  observations  about  the  bullocks  which 
had  l>een  brought  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  amongst  which  a  great  mortality   had  taken  olaoB. 


22  A   VOICK    KKOM    ST.    IIKl.KNA. 

*'Tli«'  ndniir.'il,"  sniil  hi>.  "tuight  to  hiive  i-oiitmctod  for  them, 
in-itoad  of  making  tljciii  govormiu'iit  jiropcrty.  It  is  woll  kiiuwn 
that  wliatovor  ln'Iungs  to  a  govfriiint'iit  is  lu-vcr  taken  any  cart' 
«>f,  and  is  phiniliMi'tl  by  i-vorybody.  If  ho  had  contracted  with 
some  person,  I  will  venture  to  say  very  few  would  have  died, 
instead  of  a  third,  as  has  been  the  case."  He  then  asked  me 
many  questions  abojit  the  relative  price  of  articles  in  England 
and  St.  Helena,  and  concluded  by  asking  me  if  1  took  any  fees 
lor  attending  the  sick  people  on  the  island.  I  replit.«d  in  the 
negative,  which  seemed  to  surprise  him.  "Corvisart,"  said  he, 
"notwithstanding  his  being  my  first  physician,  possessed  of  great 
wealth,  and  in  the  haliit  of  receiving  many  rich  presents  from 
me,  Constantly  tt»ok  a  Napoleon  for  each  visit  he  paid  to  the  sick. 
In  yoar  country,  particularly,  every  man  has  his  trade  :  the  mem- 
ber of  parliament  takes  money  for  his  vote,  the  ministers  for 
their  pkices,  the  lawyers  for  their  opinion." 

29th. — Napoleon  asked  several  questions  relative  to  the  ships 
w  hich  had  l)een  seen  to  approach  the  island.  Was  anxious  to  know 
if  Lady  Bingham,  w  ho  had  lieen  expected  for  some  time,  had  arriv- 
ed. Observed  how  anxious  Sir  George  Bingham  must  be  about 
her.  Asked  me  if  the  ship  was  furnished  with  a  chronometer  by 
government  J  to  which  I  replied  in  the  negative.  He  observed 
that  the  vessel  might  very  probably  miss  the  island  through  the 
want  of '^•uf.  ''How  shameful  it  is,"  said  he,  "for  your  gov- 
ernment to  put  three  or  four  hundred  men  on  board  of  a  ship 
destined  for  this  place  without  a  chronometer,  thereby  running 
'.he  risk  of  ship  and  cargo,  of  the  value  perhaps  of  half  a  mil- 
"i  ju,  together  with  the  lives  of  so  many  poveri  diavuH,  (poor 
devils)  for  the  sake  of  saving  three  or  four  hundred  francs  for  a 
watch.  1,"  cntiiuied  he,  "ordered  that  every  ship  employed 
in  the  French  service  should  l)e  supplied  with  one.  It  is  a  weak 
ness  in  your  government  not  to  be  accounted  for."  He  then 
asked  me  if  i*.  were  true  that  a  court  of  inquiry  was  then  holding 
upon  some  rtHicer  for  having  made  too  free  with  the  bottle.  "  Is 
it  a  crime,"  added  he,  "for  the  English  to  get  drunk,  and  will  a 
court-marlial  be  the  consequence?  for,  if  that  were  the  case,  ycu 
would  have  nothing  but  c<jurt-raartials  every  day.     WHg 


1816 — APRIL.  28 

A  little  merry  on  board  every  day  after  dinner.*'  I  observed 
that  there  was  a  wide  difference  between  being  merry  and  getting 
drunk.  He  laughed,  and  repeated  what  he  had  said  relative  to 
court-martials.  *'  Is  it  true,"  said  he  then,  "that  they  are  sending 
out  a  house  and  furniture  for  me,  as  theie  are  so  many  lies  in 
y<»ur  newspapers,  that  I  have  my  doubts,  especially  as  I  have 
heard  nothing  about  it  officially  V  I  told  him  that  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe  had  assured  me  of  the  fact,  and  that  Sir  Thomas  Read* 
professed  to  have  seen  both  the  house  and  the  furniture. 

Many  changes  relative  to  the  treatment  of  the  French  have 
taken  place  since  Sir  Hudson  arrived.  Mr.  Brooke,  the  Colonial 
Secretary,  Major  Gorrequer,  Sir  Hudson's  aid-de-camp,  and  other 
official  persons,  went  round  to  the  different  shopkeepers  in  the 
town,  ordering  them,  in  the  name  of  the  governor,  not  to  give 
credit  to  any  of  the  French,  or  to  sell  them  any  article,  unless 
for  ready  money,  under  pain  of  not  only  losing  the  amount  of 
the  sum  so  credited,  but  of  suffering  such  other  punishment  as 
the  governor  might  think  proper  to  award.  They  were  further 
directed  to  hold  no  communication  whatsoever  with  them,  with- 
out special  permission  from  the  governor,  under  pain  of  being 
turned  off  the  island. 

Many  of  the  officers  of  the  53d,  who  were  in  the  habit  of  call- 
ing to  see  Madame  Bertrand  at  Hut's  Gate,  received  hints  that 
their  visits  were  not  pleasing  to  the  authorities  lately  arrived  ; 
and  the  officer  of  the  Hut's  Gate  guard,  was  ordered  to  report 
the  names  of  all  persons  entering  Bertrand's  house.  Sentinels 
were  placed  in  different  directions  to  prevent  the  approach  of 
visitors,  several  of  whom,  including  some  ladies,  were  turned 
back.  A  sensation  of  unwillingness,  or  rather  fear,  tq,  approach 
the  exiles,  very  different  from  the  feeling  which  existed  a  few 
days  ago,  appeared  to  be  pretty  general  amongst  the  inhabitants, 
and  even  amongst  the  military  and  naval  officers.  The  governor 
was  very  minute  in  his  inquiries  to  those  persons  who  had  for- 
merly conversed  with  Napoleon,  or  any  of  his  suite.  Several  of 
the  officers  of  the  53d  went  to  Hut's  Gate,  to  take  leave  of 
Countess  Bertrand,  (to  use  their  own  words,)  as  they  declared 
the  impossibility  there  was  for  men  of  honor  to  comply  with  the 


24  A    VUICK    FROM    ST.    HKLENA. 

now  rcpulntions.  ll  wus  i-xprotod  ami  ivciuired  tlial.  all  persons 
who  visited  at  Hut's  Gate,  or  at  l^ingwoud,  should  make  a  report 
of  the  conversations  the\-  had  held  with  the  Freneh  to  t.ie  gov- 
ernor, or  [o  Sir  Tht>inas  IJeade.  Several  adtiitional  sentinels 
were  plaeed  around  Lon<;wood  House  and  grounds. 

.Vdt/  'Anl — Tiic  weather  has  liecwi  extremely  wet  and  foggy, 
with  high  wind  for  several  days,  during  whieh  time  Napoleon 
did  not  stir  nut  of  doors.  Messengers  and  letters  eontinnally 
arrived  from  IMantation  House.  The  governor  was  apparently 
very  anxious  to  see  Napoleon,  and  seemingly  distrustful,  although 
the  residents  of  Longwood  were  assured  of  his  actual  presence 
by  the  sound  of  his  voice.  He  had  some  communications  with 
Count  Bcrtrand  relative  to  the  necessity  which  he  said  there  was, 
that  some  of  his  officers  should  see  Napoleon  daily.  He  also 
came  to  Longwood  frequently  himself,  and,  finally,  after  some 
difficulty,  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  interview  with  Napoleon  in 
his  bed-chamber,  which  lasted  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  Some 
days  before,  he  sent  for  me,  and  asked  a  variety  of  questions 
concerning  the  captive,  walked  round  the  house  several  times, 
and  before  the  windows,  measuring  and  laying  down  the  plan  of 
a  new  ditch,  which  he  said  he  would  have  dug,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  cattle  from  trespassing.  On  his  arrival  at  the  angle, 
formed  by  the  unic^n  of  two  of  the  old  ditches,  he  observed  a  tree, 
the  branches  of  wliiih  considerably  overhung  it.  This  appeared  to 
excite  consideralde  alarm  in  his  excellency's  breast,  as  he  desired 
me  to  send  instantly  for  Mr.  Porteous,  the  superintendent  of  the 
company's  gardens.  Some  minutes  having  elapsed  after  I  had  dis- 
patched a  messenger  for  that  gentlemen,  the  governor,  who  had 
his  eyes  continually  fixed  upon  the  tree,  desired  me,  in  a  hasty 
manner,  to  go  and  fetch  Mr.  Porteous  instantly  myself.  On  my 
return  with  him,  I  found  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  walking  up  and  down, 
contemplating  the  object  which  appeared  to  be  such  a  source  of 
alarm.  In  a  hurried  manner,  he  ordered  Mr.  Porteous  to  send 
some  men  instantly  to  have  the  tree  grubbed  up,  and  before 
leaving  the  ground  directed  me,  in  an  under  tone,  to  "  see  that 
it  was  done." 

On  the  4th,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  went  to  see  Count  Bertrand, 


1816— MAY.  26 

with  whom  he  had  an  hour's  conversation,  which  did  not  appear 
to  be  of  a  nature  very  pleasing  to  him,  as,  on  retiring,  he 
mounted  his  horse,  mutteiing  something,  and  evidently  out  of 
humor.  Shortly  afterwards,  I  learned  the  purport  of  his  visit. 
He  commenced  by  saying,  that  the  French  made  a  great  many 
complaints  without  any  reason ;  that,  considering  their  situation, 
they  were  very  well  treated,  and  ought  to  be  thankful,  instead  of 
making  any  complaints.  It  appeared  to  him,  however,  that  in- 
stead of  being  so,  they  abused  the  liberal  treatment  which  was 
practiced  towards  them.  That  he  was  determined  to  assure 
himself  of  General  Bonaparte's  actual  pi-esence  daily,  by  the  ob- 
servation of  an  officer  appointed  by  him,  and  that  this  officer 
should  visit  him,  at  fixed  hours,  for  such  purpose.  During  the 
whole  of  it,  he  spoke  in  a  very  authoritative  and  indeed  con- 
temptuous manner,  frequently  referring  to  the  great  powers  with 
which  he  was  invested. 

bth. — Napoleon  sent  Marchand  for  me  at  about  nine  o'clock. 
Was  introduced  by  the  back  door  into  his  bed-room,  a  descrip- 
tion of  which  I  shall  endeavor  to  give,  as  minutely  and  as  cor- 
rectly as  possible.  It  was  about  fourteen  feet  by  twelve,  and 
ten  or  eleven  feet  in  height.  The  walls  were  lined  with  brown 
nankeen,  bordered  and  edged  with  common  green  bordering  pa- 
per, and  destitute  of  surbace.  Two  small  windows,  without 
pulleys,  looking  towards  the  camp  of  the  53d  regiment,  one  of 
which  was  thrown  up  and  fastened  by  a  piece  of  notched  wood. 
Window-curtains  of  white  long  cloth,  a  small  fire-place,  a  shabby 
grate,  and  fire-irons  to  match,  with  a  paltry  mantle-piece,  of  wood 
painted  white,  upon  which  stood  a  small  marble  bust  of  his  son. 
Above  the  mantle-piece  hung  the  portrait  of  Marie  Louise,  and 
four  or  five  of  young  Napoleon,  one  of  which  was  embroidered 
by  the  hands  of  the  mother,  A  little  more  to  the  right  hung 
also  a  miniature  picture  of  the  Empress  Josephine,  and  to  the 
left  was  suspended  the  alarm  chamber  watch  of  Frederic  the 
Great,  obtained  by  Napoleon  at  Potsdam  ;  while  on  the  right, 
the  consular  watch,  engraved  with  the  cypher  B,  hung  by  a  chain 
of  the  plaited  hair  of  Marie  Louise,  from  a  pin  stuck  in  the  nan- 
keen lining.     The  floor  was  covered  with  a  second-hand  carpet, 

2 


M  A   VOk'K    FKOM   ST.    HKLK^fA. 

which  hud  uiHv  dicumlj-d  the  dining  room  <>f  ii  linitonant  of  the 
St.  Ildenji  aitilliTV.  In  tin-  li^ht  hiuul  corner  was  placed  the 
little  {)lain  iron  canij)  bedstead,  with  <;reen  silk  curtains,  upon 
which  its  n. aster  had  reposed  on  the  fields  of  Murengo  and  Aus- 
terlitz.  Between  the  windows  there  was  a  paltry  second-hand 
chest  of  drawers ;  and  an  old  houk-case  with  green  blinds  stood 
on  the  left  of  the  door  leading  to  the  next  apartment.  Four  or 
five  can* -bottom  chairs,  painted  green,  were  standing  here  and 
there  about  the  room.  Before  the  l)ack-door  there  was  a  screen 
covered  with  nankeen,  and  between  that  and  the  fire-place  an 
old  fashioned  sofa  covered  with  white  long  cloth,  upon  which  re- 
clined Napoleon,  clothed  in  his  white  morning  gown,  white  loose 
trowsers  and  stockings  all  in  one.  A  chequered  red  madras  upon 
his  head,  and  his  shirt  collar  open  without  a  cravat.  His  air  was 
melancholy  and  troubled.  Before  him  stood  a  little  round  table, 
with  some  books,  at  the  foot  of  which  lay,  in  confusion  upon  the 
carpet,  a  heap  of  those  which  he  had  already  perused,  and  at  the 
foot  of  the  sofa,  facing  him,  was  suspended  a  portrait  of  the  Em- 
press Marie  Louise,  with  her  son  in  her  arms.  In  front  of  the 
fire-place  stood  Las  Cases,  with  his  arms  folded  over  his  breast 
and  some  papers  in  one  of  his  hands.  Of  all  the  former  magni- 
ficence of  the  once  mighty  emperor  of  France,  nothing  was  pre- 
sent except  a  superb  wash-hand  stand,  containing  a  silver  basin, 
and  water-jug  of  the  same  metal,  in  the  left  hand  corner. 

Napoleon,  after  a  few  questions  of  no  importance,  asked  me 
in  both  French  and  Italian,  in  the  presence  of  Count  Las  Cases, 
the  f(jllowing  questions  : — "  You  know  that  it  was  in  consequence 
of  my  application  that  you  were  appointed  to  attend  upon  me. 
Now  I  want  to  know  from  you  precisely  and  truly,  as  a  man  of 
honor,  in  what  situation  you  conceive  yourself  to  be,  whether  as 
my  surgeon,  as  M.  Maingaud  was,  or  the  surgeon  of  a  prison 
ship  and  prisoners  1  Whether  you  have  orders  to  report  everj 
trifling  occurrence,  or  illness,  or  what  I  say  to  you,  to  the  gov- 
ernor? Answer  me  candidly.  What  situation  do  you  conceive 
yourself  to  be  in  ?"  I  replied,  "  As  your  surgeon,  and  to  at- 
tend  upon  you  and  your  suit.  I  have  received  no  other  orders 
than  to  make  an  immediate  report  in  case  of  your  being  taken 


1816— MAY.  i7 

seriously  ill,  in  order  to  have  promptly  the  advice  and  assistance 
of  other  physicians."  "First  obtaining  my  consent  to  call  in 
others,"  demanded  he,  "  is  it  not  so  V  I  answered  that  I  would 
certainly  obtain  his  previous  consent.  He  then  said,  "  If  you 
were  appointed  as  surgeon  to  a  prison,  and  to  report  my  conver- 
sations to  the  governor,  whom  I  take  to  be  un  capo  di  spioni,  (a 
captain  of  spies)  I  would  never  see  you  again."  "  Do  not," 
continued  he,  (on  my  replying  that  I  was  placed  about  him  as  a 
surgeon,  and  by  no  means  as  a  spy,)  "  suppose  that  I  take  you 
for  a  spy  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  have  never  had  the  least  occasion 
to  find  fault  with  you,  and  I  have  a  friendship  for  you  and  an 
esteem  for  your  character,  a  greater  proof  of  which  I  could  not 
give  you  than  asking  you  candidly  your  own  opinion  of  your 
situation  ;  as  you,  being  an  Englishman,  and  paid  by  the  English 
government,  might  perhaps  be  obliged  to  do  what  1  have  asked." 
I  replied  as  before  said,  and  that  in  my  professional  capacity  1 
did  not  consider  myself  to  belong  to  any  particular  country. 
"  If  I  am  taken  seriously  ill,"  said  he,  "  then  acquaint  me  with 
your  opinion,  and  ask  my  consent  to  call  in  others.  This  gov- 
ernor, during  the  few  days  that  I  was  melancholy,  and  had  a 
mental  affliction  in  consequence  of  the  treatment  I  receive,  which 
prevented  me  from  going  out,  in  order  that  I  might  not  ennuyer 
(weary)  others  with  my  afflictions,  wanted  to  send  his  physician 
to  me  under  the  pretext  of  inquiring  after  my  health.  I  desired 
Bertrand  to  tell  him  that  I  had  not  sufficient  confidence  in  his 
physician  to  take  any  thing  from  his  hands.  That  if  I  were  really 
ill,  I  would  send  for  you  in  whom  I  have  confidence,  but  that  a 
physician  was  of  no  use  in  such  cases,  and  that  I  only  wanted  to 
be  left,  alone  I  undei-stand  that  he  proposed  an  officer  should 
enter  my  chamber  to  see  me,  if  I  did  not  stir  out.  Any  person," 
continued  he,  with  n)uch  emotion,  "  who  endeavors  to  force  his 
way  into  my  apartment,  shall  be  a  corpse  the  moment  he  enters 
it.  If  he  ever  eats  bread  or  meat  again,  I  am  not  Napoleon. 
This  I  am  determined  on  ;  I  know  that  I  shall  be  killed  after- 
wards, as  what  can  one  do  against  a  camp  ?  I  have  faced  death 
too  many  times  to  fear  it.  Besides,  I  am  ^nvinced  that  thia 
governor  has  been  sent  out  by  Lord I  told  him  a  few 


S8  A    VOICK    FKOM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

days  ago,  that  if  lie  waiiU'd  t>'  jmt  an  t'ud  to  mo,  he  would  have 
a  very  gi>«>d  ojipuitmiily  \>\  si-iuliiig  sKiin'Uudy  to  forcf  his  way 
into  my  chamluT.  'I'liat  I  wtnild  iiunu'diatoly  maki'  a  corpse  ol 
the  first  that  enteii-d,  and  then  I  >liould  he  of  course  dispatched, 
and  he  luiyht  write  home  to  liis  goveriunent  that  'Bonaparte' 
was  killed  in  a  brawl.  I  alst>  told  him  to  leave  me  alone  and 
not  to  torment  me  with  his  hateful  presence.  I  have  seen  Prus- 
sians, I'artars,  Cossacs,  Calmucks,  &c.,  but  never  before  in  my 
life  have  I  beheld  so  ill-favored,  and  so  forbidding  a  counten»fice. 

//  parte   le enrprehtt  sur  son  visage.      (He  carries  the 

imprint  on  his  face.) 

I  endeavored  to  convince  him  that  the  English  ministry  would 
never  be  capable  of  what  he  supposed,  and  that  such  was  not  the 
character  of  the  nation.  "  I  had  reason  to  complain  of  the  admi- 
ral," said  he  ;  "  but,  though  he  treated  me  roughly,  he  never 
behaved  in  such  a  manner  as  this  Prussian.  A  few  days  ago,  he 
in  a  manner  insisted  upon  seeing  me,  when  I  was  undressed  and 
a  prey  to  melancholy,  in  my  chamber.  The  admiral  never  asked 
to  see  me  a  second  time,  when  it  was  intimated  to  him  that  1 
was  unwell  or  undressed  ;  as  he  well  knew,  that  though  I  did  not 
go  out,  I  was  still  to  be  found." 

After  this,  he  mentioned  his  apprehensions  of  being  afflicted 
with  an  attack  of  gout.  I  recommended  him  to  take  much  more 
exercise.  "What  can  I  do,"  replied  he,  "in  this  execrable  isle, 
where  you  cannot  ride  a  mile  without  being  wet  through ;  an 
island,  that  even  the  English  themselves  complain  of,  though 
used  to  humidity  V  He  concluded  by  making  some  severe 
remarks  upon  the  governor's  conduct,  in  having  sent  his  aid-de 
camp  and  secretary  round  the  shops,  forbidding  the  shopkeepers 
to  give  the  French  credit  under  pain  of  severe  punishment. 

6^. — Had  some  more  conversation  with  Napoleon  upon  the 
same  subject  as  yesterday,  which  commenced  by  my  submitting  to 
him,  that,  according  to  the  strict  letter  of  the  conversation  of 
yesterday,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  reply  to  any  ques- 
tion addressed  to  me  relative  to  him  or  to  hisailairs,  whether  made 
by  the  governor  or  any  one  else,  which  he  must  be  aware,  was, 
ill  my   situati"n,  bnpossible.     Moreover,  that  I  had  been,  from 


1816~MAY.  29 

the  time  of  my  arrival,  and  was  then,  frequently  employed  a*  a 
medium  of  communication  to  the  authorities  of  the  island,  which 
I  hoped  I  had  executed  to  his  satisfaction.  He  replied,  "Are 
you  to  be  my  surgeon,  or  surgeon  d?un  gallre  ;  (of  a  galley  ;) 
and  are  you  expected  to  report  what  you  observe  or  hear?"  I 
answered,  "  I  am  your  surgeon,  and  not  a  spy,  and  one  in  whom 
I  hope  you  may  place  confidence ;  I  am  not  surgeon  d''un  gaUre^ 
nor  do  I  consider  it  imperative  on  me  to  report  anything  which 
is  not  contrary  to  my  allegiance  as  a  British  officer,  &;c."  I  also 
endeavored  to  explain,  that  I  would  regulate  my  conduct  with 
respect  to  his  conversations  by  the  rules  which  existed  to  that 
effect  amongst  galantuomini,  (gentlemen,)  and  as  I  would  do, 
were  I  attached  in  a  similar  capacity  to  an  English  nobleman ; 
but  that  total  silence  w^as  out  of  my  power,  if  he  wished  me  to 
preserve  any  communication  with  the  governor,  or  with  any 
other  English  persons  on  the  island.  He  replied,  that  all  he 
wanted  of  me  was  to  act  as  a  galantuomo,  and  "as  you  would 
do  were  you  surgeon  to  Lord  St.  Vincent.  I  do  not  mean  to  bind 
you  to  silence,  or  to  prevent  you  from  repeating  any  bavardagi 
(trifle)  you  may  hear  me  say  ;  but  I  want  to  prevent  you  from 
allowing  yourself  to  be  cajoled  and  made  a  spy  of,  unintention- 
ally on  your  part,  by  this  governor.  After  that  to  your  God, 
your  duty  is  to  be  paid  to  your  own  country  and  sovereign,  and 
your  next,  to  your  patients." 

"  During  the  short  interview  that  this  governor  had  with  me 
in  my  bed-chamber,"  continued  he,  "  one  of  the  first  things  which 
he  proposed  was  to  send  you  away,  and  to  take  his  own  surgeon 
in  your  place.  This  he  repeated  twice ;  and  so  earnest  was  he 
*.o  gain  his  object,  that,  although  I  gave  him  a  most  decided  re- 
fusal, when  he  was  going  out  he  turned  about  and  again  proposed 
it  I  never  saw  such  a  horrid  coiuitenance.  He  sat  on  a  chair 
opposite  to  my  sofa,  and  on  the  little  table  between  us  there  was 
a  cup  of  coffee.  His  physiognomy  made  such  an  unfavorable 
impression  upon  me,  that  I  thought  his  looks  had  poisoned  it,  and 
I  ordered  Marchand  to  throw  it  out  of  the  window ;  I  could  not 
have  swallowed  it  for  the  world." 

Count  Las  Cases,  who  entered  Napoleon's  room  a  few  minutes 


(M  A    VOICK    KIMM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

.ilur  tho  tUpsirtiirc  of  tlu'  guvi-riHir,  itiM  me  thai  the  oinperor 
hail  said  t«»  him: — '*  J/<»/j  />icii !  ci'sf  unc  jiyurc  bicn  sinistre; 
fott  a  peine  le  (fire,  titais  c^esl  a  nc  pos  prmJre  une  tassc  de  ca/c, 
s'«/  etait  Uemeure  iiii  instant  seul  aupies."''  (My  God  !  hi'  has  a 
vtTv  bad  «.'o»intiiiaiu'o--I  daro  hardly  say  so,  Imt  .lie  should  r.o 
.fiituiv  to  drink  a  cup  of  cofleo,  if  ho  had  been  near  it  alone  foi 
in  instant.) 

V2(fi. — A  proclamation  was  issued  yesti'iday  by  Sir  Ilud.son 
1-owe,  prohibiting  "any  person  from  receiving  or  being  the 
bearer  of  any  letters  or  communications  from  General  Bona- 
parte, the  officers  of  his  suite,  his  followers  or  servants  of  any 
description,  or  to  deliver  any  to  them,  under  pain  of  being  ar- 
rested immediately,  and  dealt  with  accordingly." 

14//i. — Saw  Napoleon  in  his  dressing-room  ;  he  complained  of 
being  alTected  with  catarrhal  symptoms,  the  cause  of  which  1  at- 
tributed to  his  having  walked  out  in  the  wet  with  very  thin 
shoes,  and  recommended  him  to  wear  galoches,  which  he  ordered 
Marehand  to  provide.  "I  have  promised,"  added  he,  "to  see  a 
number  of  people  to-day  ;  and,  though  1  am  indisposed,  I  .shall 
do  so."  Just  at  this  moment  some  of  the  visitors  came  close  to 
the  window  of  his  dressing-room,  which  was  open,  tried  to  put 
aside  the  curtain,  and  i>eep  in.  Napoleon  shut  the  window, 
asked  some  questions  alniut  T.ady  Moira,  and  observed,  "The 
governor  sent  an  invitation  to  Bertrand  for  General  Bonapaite  to 
come  to  Plantation  House  to  meet  Lady  Moira.  I  told  Bertrand 
to  return  no  answer  to  it.  If  he  really  wanted  me  to  see  her, 
he  would  have  put  Plantation  House  in  the  limits;  but  to  send 
such  an  invitation,  knowing  that  I  must  go  in  charge  of  a  guard, 
if  I  wished  to  avail  myself  of  it,  was  an  insult.  If  he  had  sent 
word  that  Lady  Moira  was  sick,  fatigued,  or  pregnant,  I  would 
have  gone  to  see  her;  though  I  think,  that  under  all  the  circum- 
stances, she  might  have  come  to  see  me,  or  Madame  Bertrand, 
or  Montholon,  as  she  was  free  and  unshackled.  The  first  sover- 
eigns in  the  world  have  not  been  ashamed  to  pay  me  a  visit." 

"  It  appears,"  added  he,  "  that  this  governor  was  with  Blu- 
cher,  and  is  the  writer  of  some  official  letters  to  your  govern- 
ment, descriptive  of  part  of  the  operations  of  1814.     I  pointed 


1816 — MAY.  Si 

them  out  to  him  the  last  time  I  saw  him,  and  asked  him,  Est-c4 
vous^  Monsieur  ?  (Is  this  you,  Sir  ?)  He  replied,  'Yes.'  1  told 
him  that  they  were  pleines  de  fuussetes  et  de  solises,  (full  of  false- 
hoods and  foolishness.)  He  shrugged  up  his  shoulders,  appeared 
confused,  and  replied,  '  J^ai  cru  voir  cela.''  (I  believe  that  I  sav^ 
that.)  •'  If,"  continued  he,  "  those  letters  were  the  only  accounts 
he  sent,  he  betrayed  his  country." 

Count  Bertrand  came  in  and  announced  that  several  persons 
had  arrived  to  see  him,  besides  those  who  had  received  appoint- 
ments for  the  day.  Amongst  other  names,  that  of  Arbuthnot 
was  mentioned.  Napoleon  asked  me  who  he  was.  I  answered, 
that  I  believed  him  to  be  brother  to  the  person  who  had  been 
ambassador  at  Constantinople.  "  Ah,  yes,  yes,"  said  Napoleon, 
with  a  sly  smile,  "  when  Sebastiani  was  there.  You  may  say 
that  I  shall  receive  them." 

"  Have  you  conversed  much  with  the  governor's  physician  ?" 
said  Napoleon.  I  replied  in  the  affirmative,  adding,  that  he  was 
the  chief  of  the  medical  staff,  but  not  attached  to  the  governor 
as  his  body  physician.  "  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he  1  Does  he 
look  like  an  honest  man.  or  a  man  of  talent?"  I  replied,  that 
his  appearance  was  very  much  in  his  favor,  and  that  he  was  con- 
sidered to  be  a  man  of  talent  and  of  science. 

16th. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  an  interview  of  about  half  an 
hour  with  Napoleon,  which  did  not  appear  to  be  satisfactory. 
Saw  Napoleon  walking  in  the  garden,  in  a  very  thoughtful  man- 
ner, a  few  minutes  subsequent  to  the  governor's  departure,  and 
gave  to  him  the  Dictioniiaire  des  Girouettes  (Dictionary  of 
Weathercocks)  and  a  few  newspapers.  After  he  had  asked  me 
from  whom  I  had  procured  them,  he  said,  "  Here  has  been  this 
viso  di  boja  a  lormentarmi  (the  torturing  executioner.)  Tell  him 
that  I  never  want  to  see  him,  and  that  I  wish  he  may  not  come 
again  to  annoy  me  with  his  hateful  presence.  Let  him  never 
again  come  near  me,  unless  it  is  with  orders  to  dispatch  me ; 
he  will  then  find  my  breast  ready  for  the  blow;  but  until  then, 
let  me  be  free  of  his  odious  countenance ;  I  cannot  accustom 
myself  to  it." 

17^"^. — Napoleon   in  very  good  spirits.     Demanded  what  the 


S2  ▲   VOICK    FU(»M    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

uews  was,  I  infonntul  him  that  tlic  ladifs  lie  liad  received  afein 
days  before  were  hii;lily  ileliyliteil  with  liis  iiiaiiiiers,  especially, 
as  from  what  they  had  n-ad  and  heard,  they  had  been  prepos- 
sessed with  opinions  of  a  very  diflerent  nature.  "Ah,"  said  he, 
laughing,  "  I  siijipose  that  they  iinuijined  I  was  some  feroeiou!* 
horned  animal." 

Some  conversation  occurred  touching  what  Sir  llobert  Wiisoii 
had  written  respecting  hint  about  . I  alia,  Captain  Wright,  &e.,  1 
observed,  that  as  those  assertions  had  never  been  fully  contra- 
dicted, they  were  V)elieved  by  numbers  of  English.  "  liah," 
replied  Napoleon,  "these  calumnies  will  fall  of  themselves,  espe- 
cially now  that  there  are  so  many  English  in  France,  who  will 
soon  find  out  that  they  are  all  falsehoods.  Were  Wilson  him- 
self not,  convinced  of  the  untruth  of  the  statements  which  he  had 
once  believed,  do  you  think  that  he  would  have  assisted  Lava- 
lette  to  escape  out  of  prison  ?" 

igiJi, — Napoleon  in  very  good  humor.  Told  him  that  the 
late  governor  of  Jaffa,  Mr.  Raffles,  and  his  staff,  had  arrived  on 
their  way  to  England,  and  were  very  desirous  of  having  the 
honor  of  paying  their  respects  to  him.  "  What  kind  of  a  man 
is  the  governor]"  I  replied,  Mr.  Urmston  informed  me  that  he 
is  vn  bravissimo  vomo  (very  fine  fellow)  ;  and  possessed  of  great 
learning  and  talents.  "  Well,  then,"  said  he,  '•  I  shall  see  them 
in  two  or  three  hours,  when  I  am  dressed." 

"  This  governor,"  said  he,  "  e  um  imbecile,  (is  a  simpleton.) 
He  asked  Bertrand  the  other  day  if  he  (Bertrand)  ever  had  asked 
»ny  of  the  passengers  liound  to  England,  whether  they  intended 
to  go  to  France,  as,  if  he  had  done  so,  he  must  not  continue  such 
a  practice.  Bertrand  replied,  that  he  certainly  had,  and  more- 
over, had  begged  of  some  to  tell  his  relations  that  they  were  it 
good  health.  '  But,' says  this  imbecile,  '  you  must  not  do  so.' 
'  Why,'  says  Bertrand,  '  has  not  your  government  permitted  me 
to  write  as  many  letters  as  I  like,  and  can  any  government  deny 
me  the  liberty  of  speaking?'  Bertrand,"  continued  he,  "ought 
to  have  replied,  that  galley-slaves  and  prisoners  under  sent€DC*i 
of  death  were  permitted  to  inquire  after  their  relations."  He 
then  observed    how   unnecessary  and  vexations  it  was  to  reauire 


1816 — MAY.  SS 

that  an  officer  should  accompany  him,  should  he  be  desirous  of 
visiting  the  interior  of  the  island.  "  It  is  all  right,'*  continued 
he,  "  to  keep  me  away  from  the  town  and  the  sea-side.  I  would 
never  desire  to  approach  either  the  one  or  the  other.  All  that 
is  necessary  for  my  security,  is  to  guard  well  the  sea-borders  of 
this  rock.  Let  him  place  his  picquets  round  the  island  close  by 
the  sea,  and  in  communication  with  each  other,  which  he  might 
easily  do,  with  the  number  of  men  he  has,  and  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  me  to  escape.  Cannot  he  moreover  put  a  few  horse- 
men in  motion  when  he  knows  I  am  going  out?  Cannot  he 
place  them  on  the  hills,  or  where  he  likes,  without  letting  me 
know  anything  al)out  it,  I  will  never  appear  to  see  them.  Cannot 
he  do  thvs,  without  obliging  me  to  tell  Poppleton  that  1  want  to 
ride  out — not  that  I  have  any  objection  to  Poppleton — 1  love  a 
good  soldier  of  any  nation  ;  but  I  will  not  do  anything  which 
may  lead  people  to  imagine  that  I  am  a  prisoner — I  have  been 
forced  here  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations,  and  1  will  never 
acknowledge  their  right  in  detaining  me.  My  asking  an  officer 
to  accompany  me  would  be  a  tacit  acknowledgment  of  it.  I 
have  no  intention  to  attempt  an  escape,  though  I  have  not  given 
my  word  of  honor  not  to  try.  Neither  will  I  ever  give  it,  as 
that  would  be  acknowledging  myself  a  prisoner,  which  I  ■will 
never  do.  Cannot  they  impose  additional  restrictions  when 
ships  arrive ;  and  above  all,  not  allow  any  ship  to  sail  until  my 
actual  presence  is  ascertained,  without  inflicting  such  useless,  and 
because  useless,  vexatious  restrictions.  It  is  necessary  for  my 
health  that  I  should  ride  seven  or  eight  leagues  daily,  but  I  will 
not  do  so  with  an  officer  or  guard  over  me.  It  has  always  been 
my  maxim,  that  a  man  shows  more  real  courage  in  supporting 
and  resisting  the  calamities  and  misfortunes  which  befall  him^ 
than  by  making  away  with  himself.  That  is  the  action  of  a 
losing  gamester,  or  a  ruined  spendthrift,  and  is  a  want  of  cour- 
age, instead  of  a  proof  of  it.  Your  government  will  be  mis- 
taken, if  they  imagine,  that  by  seeking  every  means  to  annoy 
me,  such  as  sending  me  here,  depriving  me  of  all  communica- 
tion with  my  nearest  and  dearest  relatives,  so  that  I  am  ignorant 
if  one  of  my  blood  exists,  isolating  me  from  the  world,  imposing 

a* 


84  A    VOICK    FKOM    .->:•.    IIKIKNA. 

UBcK'ss  ftiitl  voxalioiis  rest  rid  ions,  \vlii<h  iiiv  daily  gt'ttiiig  wor»e, 
somrmg  Its  ffcis  den  fnnnwes  (tlic  sruin  of  iiiaiikiinl)  as  keepers, 
thev  will  \v«'iiiy  out  my  patieiioo,  and  induce  ine  to  e»>inmit  sui- 
cide. They  are  iiiisiakcn.  Even  if  I  ever  liad  cntcrlaincd  a 
thought  of  tlie  kind,  the  idea  of  the  gratification  it  would  afford 
to  them,  would  prevent  me  from  eomj)leling  it." 

*' That /><//(iff,"  .'^aid  he  laughing,  "which  they  say  they  have 
sent  out  for  me,  is  .so  much  money  thrown  in  the  sea.  I  would 
rather  that  they  had  sent  me  four  hundred  volumes  of  books, 
than  all  their  furniture  and  houses.  In  the  lirst  place,  it  will  re- 
tjuire  -some  years  to  luiild  it,  and  before  that  time  I  shall  be  no 
more.  All  nmst  be  done  by  the  lalior  of  those  pijor  soldiers  and 
sailors,  I  do  not  wish  it,  I  do  nt)t  wish  to  incur  the  hatred  of 
those  poor  fellows,  who  are  already  sufficiently  miserable  by 
havinji  been  sent  to  this  detestable  place,  and  harassed  in  the 
manner  they  are.  They  will  load  me  with  execrations,  suppos- 
ing me  to  be  the  author  of  all  their  hardships,  and  perhaps  may 
wish  to  put  an  end  to  me."  I  obsc  i^ed,  that  no  English  soldier 
would  become  an  assassin.  He  interrupted  me  by  saying,  "I 
nave  no  reason  to  complain  of  the  English  soldiers  or  sailors;  on 
the  contrary,  they  treat  me  with  every  respect,  and  even  appear 
to  feel  for  me." 

He  then  spoke  of  some  English  officers.  "  Moore,"  said  he, 
"  was  a  brave  soldier,  an  excellent  officer,  and  a  man  of  talent. 
He  made  a  few  mistakes,  which  were  probably  inseparable  from 
the  difficulties  with  which  he  was  surrounded,  and  caused  perhaps 
by  his  information  having  misled  him."  This  eulogium,  he  re- 
|ieated  more  than  once,  and  observed,  that  he  had  commanded 
the  reserve  in  Egypt,  where  he  had  behaved  very  well,  and  dis- 
played talent.  1  remarked,  that  Moore  was  always  in  front  of 
the  battle,  and  was  generally  unfortunate  enough  to  be  wounded. 
"Ah  !"  said  he,  "it  is  necessary  sometimes.  He  died  gloriously 
— he  died  like  a  soldier.  Menou  was  a  man  of  courage,  but  no 
soldier.  You  ought  not  to  have  taken  Egypt.  If  Kleljer  had 
lived,  you  would  never  have  conquered  it.  An  army  without 
artillery  or  cavalry  !  The  Turks  signified  nothing.  Kleljer  was 
au  irreparable  loss  to  France  and  to  me.     He  was  a  man  of  tha 


1816 — MAY.  36 

brightest  talents  and  the  greatest  bravery.  I  have  composed  the 
history  of  my  own  campaigns  in  Egypt  and  of  yours,  while  I 
was  at  the  Briars.     But  I  want  the  Moniteurs  for  the  dates." 

The  con\ersation  then  turned  upon  Fi'ench  naval  officers. 
"  Villeneuve,"  said  he,  "  when  taken  prisoner  and  brought  to 
England,  was  so  much  grieved  at  his  defeat,  that  he  studied 
anatomy  on  purpose  to  destroy  himself.  For  this  purpose,  he 
bought  some  anatomical  plates  of  the  heart,  and  compared  them 
with  his  own  body,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  exact  situation  of 
that  organ.  On  his  arrival  in  France,  I  ordered  that  he  should 
remain  at  Rennes,  and  not  proceed  to  Paris.  Villeneuve,  afraid 
of  being  tried  by  a  court-martial  for  disobedience  of  orders,  and 
consequently  losing  the  fleet,  for  I  had  ordered  him  not  to  sail, 
or  to  engage  the  English,  determined  to  destroy  himself,  and 
accordingly  took  his  plates  of  the  heart,  and  compared  them  with 
his  breast.  Exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  plate,  he  made  a  mark 
with  a  large  pin,  then  fixed  the  pin  as  near  as  he  could  judge  in 
the  same  spot  in  his  own  breast,  shoved  in  to  the  head,  pene- 
trated his  heart,  and  expired.  When  the  room  was  opened,  he 
was  found  dead  ;  the  pin  in  his  breast,  and  a  mark  in  the  plate 
corresponding  with  the  wound  in  his  breast.  He  need  not  have 
done  it,"  continued  he,  "  as  he  was  a  brave  man,  though  pos- 
sessed of  no  talent." 

"  Barre,"  said  he,  "  whom  you  took  in  the  Rivoli,  was  a  very 
brave  and  good  officer.  When  I  went  to  Egypt,  I  gave  direc- 
tions, after  1  had  disembarked  and  had  taken  Alexandria  in  a 
few  hours,  to  sound  for  a  passage  for  the  fleet.  A  Venetian 
sixty-four  (and  a  fifty-gun  ship  I  think  he  said)  got  in,  which  I 
suppose  you  have  seen  there,  but  it  was  reported  that  the  large 
ships  of  the  line  could  not.  I  ordered  Barre  to  sound.  He  re- 
ported to  me  that  there  was  a  sufficiency  of  water  in  one  part  of 
the  channel.  Bruyes,  on  the  contrary,  said  there  was  not  enough 
of  water  for  the  eighty -gun  ships.  Barre  insisted  that  there  was. 
In  the  mean  time,  I  had  advanced  in  the  country  after  the  Mame- 
lukes. All  communication  with  the  army  from  the  town  by 
messengers,  was  cut  off"  by  the  Bedouins,  who  took,  or  killed 
them  all.     My  orders  did   not   arrive,  or  1  would  have  obliged 


3ft  A    VOICK    Vium    ST.    HELENA. 

Bruvos  to  iMitor  ;  for  v«'ii  imist  kimw  tliat  I  li.ul  lln-  loiiiinaiid  of 
the  floet,  Jis  wt'll  as  tlu>  arm  v.  In  tlir  iiu'aii  timi',  Nolsoii  caiiu' 
aiul  dostrnvod  Hiiim-s  and  liis  fliH'l.  Hy  what  I  liavc  U-aim-d 
from  you,  I  soo  tliat  Uanc  was  right,  as  you  saw  \hv  Tign-  and 
Taiiopiis  enter." 

Al\er  this,  he  made  some  observations  npun  tlic  island. 
•*Sueh,''  sai<l  he,  "  is  the  deplorable  state  of  this  roek,  that  the 
nbscnee  of  aetiial  want  or  starvation  is  eonsidered  as  a  great 
blessing.  Piontkowski  went  down  to  Robinson's  the  oilier  day, 
where  they  said  to  him,  'Oh,  how  happy  you  7nus/  be  to  have 
frt's/i  meat  every  day  to  dinner.  Oh,  if  we  could  enjoy  t/iat, 
how  happy  should  we  be.'  Is  this  a  place,"  continued  he,  "fit 
for  any  person  who  has  been  accustomed  to  live  amongst  human 
beings?" 

28M. — Napoleon  asked  me  if  I  had  not  had  a  very  large  party 
to  dinner  yesterday.  1  replied,  "a  few."  "  IIow  many  of  you 
were  drunk?"  I  said,  "none."  "Bah,  bah  ;  what,  none  ?  Why 
they  could  not  have  done  any  honor  to  your  entertainment.  Was 
i.ot  Captain  Ross  a  little  gay?"  I  replied,  "Captain  Ross  is 
hi  ways  gay."  lie  laughed  at  this,  and  said  "  Ross  is  a  very  fine 
ft.llow  {^un  bravissimo  uomo)  and  the  ship's  company  are  very 
happy  in  having  such  a  captain.  I  saw,"  said  he,  "  that  poor 
clergyman,  Jones.*  They  have  used  that  poor  man  most  cruelly 
in  depriving  him  of  his  employment.  For  the  sake  of  his  family, 
if  not  for  himself,  they  ought  not  to  have  superseded  him.  He 
is  a  good  man,  is  he  not  ?"  I  replied,  that  he  w  as  a  man  of 
good  heart,  but  that  he  was  accused  of  being  too  fond  of  med- 
dling with  what  did  not  concern  him. 

I  told  him  that  news  had  arrived  that  the  Queen  of  Portugal 
was  dead,  and  also,  that  a  French  frigate  had  arrived  at  Rio 
Janeiro  to  demand  one  of  the  king's  daughters  in  marriage  for 
the  Due  de  Berri.  "  The  queen,"  said  he,  "  has  been  mad  for 
a  long  time,  and  the  daughters  are  all  ugly." 

29M. — A  ship  arrived  from  England  ;  went  to  town,  saw  the 
governor,  and  on  my  return,  went  to  Napoleon,  who  was  play- 

*  Mr.  JoncB  had  been  a  tutor  to  Mr.  Balcombe's  childrcu  during  Napoleon'8 
reftidcnce  at  the  Briars, 


3816 — ^JUNE.  87 

iug  at  nine  pins  with  his  generals  in  his  garden.  I  told  (by 
desire  of  the  governor)  that  a  bill  concerning  him  had  been 
brought  into  parliament,  to  enable  ministers  to  detain  him  in  St 
Helena,  and  to  provide  the  necessary  sums  of  money  for  his 
maintenance.  He  asked  if  it  had  met  with  opposition  ?  I  re- 
plied, "  scarcely  any."  "  Brougham  or  Burdett,"  said  he,  "did 
they  make  any  ?"  1  replied,  "  1  have  not  seen  the  papers,  but  1 
believe  that  Mr.  Brougham  said  something."  Gave  him  some 
French  newspapers,  which  the  admiral  had  given  me  before  he 
had  read  them  himself.  "  Who  gave  you  those  papers  ?"  "  The 
admiral."  "What,  for  me?"  (with  some  surprise.)  "He  told 
me  to  give  them  to  Bertrand,  but  in  reality  they  were  intended 
for  you."  After  some  conversation,  he  desired  me  to  endeavor 
to  procure  the  Morning  Chronicle,  the  Globe,  or  any  of  the  oppo- 
sition or  neutral  papers. 

June  1th. — Breakfasted  with  Napoleon  in  the  garden.  Had  a 
long  medical  argument  with  him,  in  which  he  maintained,  that 
liis  practice  in  case  of  malady,  viz.,  to  eat  nothing,  drink  plenty 
of  barley  water  and  no  wine,  and  ride  for  seven  or  eight  leagues 
to  promote  perspiration,  was  much  better  than  mine. 

Some  conversation  took  place  about  the  mode  of  solemnizing 
marriage,  in  which  I  said,  that  in  England,  when  a  protestant  and 
catholic  were  married,  it  was  necessary  that  the  ceremony  should 
be  performed,  first  by  a  protestant  clergyman,  and  afterwards  by 
a  Roman  catholic  priest.  "That  is  wrong,"  said  he,  "marriage 
ought  to  be  a  civil  contract ;  and  on  the  parties  going  before 
a  magistrate  in  the  presence  of  witnesses,  and  entering  into  an 
engagement,  tney  should  be  considered  as  man  and  wife.  This 
is  what  I  caused  to  be  done  in  France.  If  they  wished  it,  they 
might  go  to  the  church  afterwards  and  get  a  priest  to  repeat  the 
ceremony  :  but  this  ought  not  to  be  considered  as  indispensable. 
It  was  always  my  maxim  that  those  religious  ceremonies  should 
never  be  above  the  laws,  [prendre  Pessor.)  I  also  ordained,  that 
marriages  contracted  by  French  subjects  in  foreign  countries, 
when  performed  according  to  the  laws  of  those  countries,  should 
be  valid  on  the  return  of  the  parties  to  France." 

15</i. — Napoleon  at  breakfast  in  his  bath,  a  little  sliding  table 


JJ8  -V    VOITK    ri;<iM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

w«5  put  «>vcr  the  Imlli,  ii|i(>ii  whii-h  tin-  dislirs  wi'ic  pliiooH.  I  told 
him  that  WanU'ii  had  loiiiul  a  IkmiU  lu'loiigiiig  to  him,  wliich  was 
Mippnscil  to  have  1)0011  K>st  (III  hoard  of  the  Northumhorhuid. 
"Ah!  Wardi-ii,  re  brave  /lomwe  (that  fine  nmn),  how  is  he' 
\Vh\  ih'i's  lio  not  oomo  and  soo  nio — I  shall  ho  glad  to  sco  him  ! 
How  is  tho  )H(decin-cii-chijr  (chiif  physician.)  I  said  that  ho 
would  foil  higlily  honored  hy  hoing  prcsoiitcd  to  him,if  lif  would 
oonsont  to  soo  him  us  a  private  person,  and  not  as  a  physiciiin. 
"  As  yuti  say  that  ho  is  \in  (/alaiilnuiiio  (a  gciitU'iuaii),  I  shall 
see  him;  you  may  introduoo  him  to  me  in  the  gardon  any  day 
you  like.  Have  you  seen  Miledi  Liiwel  1  have  lieen  told  that 
she  is  a  graceful  and  a  fine  woman."  I  replied  that  I  had  heard 
so,  and  also  that  she  was  very  lively.  "  It  is  a  pity,"  said  ho, 
"  that  she  cannot  bestow  a  portion  of  her  wit  and  grace  upon  her 
hushand  :  as.  fur  a  public  character,  I  never  saw  a  man  so  defi- 
cient in  both."  He  asked  me  a  number  of  questions  about  Lon- 
don, of  which  I  had  lent  him  a  history,  which  had  been  made  a 
present  to  me  by  Cajttain  Ross.  He  appeared  to  be  well 
acquainted  with  the  contents  of  the  book,  though  he  had  not  had 
it  in  his  possession  many  days ;  described  the  plates,  and  tried 
to  repeat  several  of  the  cries, — said  that  if  he  had  been  king  of 
England  he  would  have  made  a  grand  street  on  each  side  of  the 
Thames,  and  another  from  St.  Paul's  to  the  river.  The  conver- 
sation afterwards  turned  upon  the  manner  of  jiving  in  France 
and  England.  "  Which  eats  the  most,"  said  he,  "the  French- 
man, or  tho  Englishman  ?"  I  said,  "  I  think  the  Frenchman." 
"  I  don't  believe  it,"  said  Napoleon.  I  replied  that  the  French, 
though  they  nominally  make  but  two  meals  a  day,  really  have 
four.  "Only  two,"  said  he.  I  replied,  they  take  something  at 
nine  in  the  morning,  at  eleven,  at  four,  and  at  seven  or  eight  in 
the  evening."  "  1,"  said  he,  "never  eat  more  than  twice  daily. 
Y"ou  English  always  eat  four  or  five  times  a  day.  Your  cookery 
is  more  healthy  than  ours.  Your  soup  is,  however,  very  bad  : 
nothing  )>ut  bnad,  pepper,  and  water.  You  drink  an  enormous 
quantity  of  w  inc."  I  said,  "  Not  so  much  as  is  supposed  by 
the  French."  Why,"  replied  he,  "Piontkowski,  who  dines 
Bomotimo    in  cauip    with   the  officers   of  the   53d,   says   that 


1816— JUNE.  89 

Ui«7  drink  by  the  hour ;  that  after  the  cloth  is  removed, 
they  pay  so  much  an  hoiii-,  and  drink  as  much  as  they  like,  which 
sometimes  lasts  until  four  o'clock  in  the  morning."  I  said,  "So 
for  fiom  the  truth  is  it,  that  some  of  the  officers  do  not  drink 
wine  more  than  twice  a  week,  and  that  on  days  in  which  stran- 
gers are  permitted  to  be  invited.  There  is  a  third  of  a  bottio 
j)Ui;  on  for  each  member  that  drinks  wine,  and  when  that  is 
exhausted,  another  third  is  put  on,  and  so  on.  Members  only 
pay  in  proportion  to  what  they  drink."  He  appeared  swrprised 
with  this  explanation,  and  observed  how  easily  a  stranger,  hav- 
ing only  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  language,  was  led  to  give 
a  wrong  interpretation  to  the  customs  and  actions  of  other  nations. 

\lth. — Told  Napoleon  that  the  Newcastle  frigate  was  in  sight, 
with  the  new  admiral.  He  desired  me  to  fetch  my  glass,  and 
point  her  out  to  him.  Found  him  on  my  return  on  his  way  to 
the  stables.  Pointed  out  the  vessel  beating  up  to  windward. 
Shortly  afterwards  Warden  came  up,  and  Napoleon  invited  me 
to  breakfast  with  him,  and  to  bring  Warden  and  Lieutenant 
Blood  with  me.  At  breakfest,  some  conversation  took  place 
about  the  Abbe  de  Pradt,  &c.  ;  and  about  some  of  the  absurd 
falsehoods  detailed  in  the  Quarterly  Review  respecting  his  con- 
duct while  at  the  Briars,  were  repeated  to  him.  "  Cela  anmsera 
le  public,'''  (that  will  amuse  the  public,)  replied  Napoleon,  War 
den  observed  that  all  Europe  was  very  anxious  to  know  his 
opinion  of  Lord  Wellington  as  a  general.  To  this  he  made  np 
reply,  and  the  question  was  not  repeated. 

Three  commissioners  arrived  in  the  Newcastle :  Count  Bal- 
maine  for  Russia;  Baron  Sturmer  for  Austria,  accompanied  by 
the  Baroness,  his  wife;  Marquis  Montchenu  for  France,  with 
Captain  Gor  his  aid-de-camp.  An  Austrian  botanist  also  accom- 
panied Baron  Sturmer. 

18^/i. — Told  Napoleon  th,at  I  had  been  to  town,  and  that  the 
commissioners  for  Russia,  France,  and  Austria  had  arrived. 
"  Have  you  seen  any  of  them  V  "  Yes,  I  saw  the  French  com- 
missioner." "  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he  V  "  He  is  an  old 
emigrant,  named  the  Marquis  of  Montchenu,  extremely  fond  of 
talking  ;  but  his  looks  are  not  against  him.     While  I  was  stand 


40  A    VOICE    FUOM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

iiig  in  a  group  of  oflirors  on  llu«  tfiraco  opposite  the  admiral's 
hoiiso,  ho  camo  out.  and  addiossing  himself  to  me,  said  in  French, 
'  if  von  or  any  of  vou  sju-ak  Frenrli,  for  the  love  of  God  make 
il  known  to  me,  for  I  do  not  speak  a  word  of  En,<ili>h.  i  have 
arrived  here  to  fniish  my  days  amongst  those  roeks  (pointing  to 
i.adder  Hill,)  and  I  cannot  speak  a  word  of  the  language. 
.Napoleon  laughed  very  neartily  at  this,  and  repeated,  bevanl^ 
i;/i/itfci7f,  several  times.  "What  folly  it  is,"  said  he,  "  to  send 
those  commissioners  out  here.  Without  charge  or  responsiljility, 
ihey  will  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  walk  about  the  streets  and 
creep  up  the  roeks.  The  Prussian  government  has  displayed 
more  judgment  and  saved  their  money."  I  told  him  that  Drouot 
had  been  acquitted,  which  pleased  him  much.  Of  Drouot's 
talents  and  virtues  he  spoke  in  the  highest  terms,  and  observed, 
that  by  the  laws  of  France  he  could  not  be  punished  for  his  con 
duct. 

20//i. — Rear-admiral  Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm,  Captain  Meynell, 
(the  flag  captain,)  and  some  other  naval  ofllicers,  were  presented 
to  Napoleon. 

21s/. — Saw  Napoleon  walking  in  the  garden,  and  went  down 
towards  him  with  a  book  that  I  had  procured  for  hiu).  After  he 
had  made  some  inquiries  about  the  health  of  Mrs.  Pierie,  a 
respectable  old  lady  whom  I  visited,  he  said  that  he  had  seen  the 
new  admiral.  '"Ah,  there  is  a  man  with  a  countenance  really 
pleasing,  open,  intelligent,  frank,  and  sincere.  There  is  the  face 
of  an  Englishman.  Truly  I  felt  as  much  pleasure  in  contemplat- 
ing his  countenance  as  I  would  in  beholding  that  of  a  fine  woman; 
nothing  dark,  downcast,  or  dissimulating.  His  countenance  be- 
speaks his  heart,  and  I  am  sure  he  is  a  good  man :  1  never  yet 
beheld  a  man  of  whom  I  so  immediately  formed  a  good  opinion 
as  of  that  fine,  soldier-like  old  man.  He  carries  his  head  erect, 
and  speaks  out  openly  and  boldly  what  he  thinks,  without  being 
afraid  to  look  you  in  the  face  at  the  time.  His  physiognomy 
would  made  every  person  desirous  of  a  further  acquaintance,  and 
render  the  most  suspicious  confident  in  him," 

Some  conversation  now  passed  relative  to  the  protest  which 
had   been  made  by  Lord  Hijlland  against  the  bill  for  his  deten- 


1816 — JUNE  41 

tion.*  Napoleon  expressed  that  opinion  of  Lord  Htilland  to 
which  his  talents  and  virtues  so  fully  entitle  him.  He  was  high- 
ly pleased  to  find  that  the  Duke  of  Sussex  had  joined  his  lord- 
ship in  the  protest,  and  observed,  that  when  passions  were  calm- 
ed, the  conduct  of  those  two  peers  would  be  handed  down  to 
posterity  with  as  much  honor,  as  that  of  the  proposers  of  the 
measure  would  be  loaded  with  ignominy. 

He  asked  several  questions  concerning  the  reduction  of  the 
English  army,  and  observed,  that  it  was  absurd  in  the  English 
government  to  endeavor  to  establish  the  nation  as  a  great  mili- 
tary power,  without  has  \ng  a  population  sufficiently  numerous  to 
afford  the  requisite  number  of  soldiers  to  enable  them  to  vie  with 
the  great,  or  even  the  seccnd-rate  continental  powers,  while  they 
neglected  and  seem  to  undervalue  the  navy,  which  was  the  real 
force  and  bulwark  of  England.  "They  will  yet,"  said  he,  "dis- 
cover their  error." 

23rt/. — Several  cases  of  books  which  had  been  ordered  by 
Bertrand  at  Madeira,  and  were  brought  out  in  the  Newcastle  by 
Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm,  were  sent  up  to  him  the  day  before. 
Found  him  in  his  bed-chamber,  surrounded  with  heaps  of  books : 
his  countenance  was  smiling,  and  he  was  in  perfect  good  humor. 
He  had  been  occupied  in  reading  neai'ly  all  the  night.  "  Ah," 
said  he,  pointing  to  some  books  that  he  had  thrown  on  the  floor, 

*  PROTEST 

TO   THE   SECOND   READING    OF  BONAPAHTE's    DETENTION   BILL. 

Because,  witliout  reference  to  the  character  or  previous  coinluct  of  the  person, 
who  ia  olie  object  of  the  present  bill,  I  disapprove  of  the  measure  which  it  sanc- 
tions and  continues. 

To  consign  to  distant  exile  and  imprisonment  a  foreign  and  captive  chief,  who 
after  the  abdication  of  Iiis  authority,  relying  on  British  generosity,  bad  snrren- 
de'"ed  liimseif  to  us  in  preference  to  his  other  enemies,  is  unworthy  of  the  mag- 
nanimity of  a  great  country;  and  tlie  treaties  by  which,  after  liis  captivitj,  we 
have  bound  ourselves  to  detain  him  in  custody,  at  the  will  of  sovereigns,  to 
whom  he  had  never  surrendered  himself,  appear  to  rne  repugnant  to  the  piinei- 
ples  of  equity,  and  utterly  uncalled  for  by  expedience  or  necessity. 

(Signed.)  VASSAL  HOLLAND. 

And,  on  the  third  reading,  His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  entered 
his  protest  for  the  same  reasons. 


42  A    VOICK    KKt)M    ST.    IIKI^KNA. 

acwriliiig  (»•  his  nistoiii,  al'iir  li;i\  iiii,'  read  tluiii,  "  vhat  a  pleaburs 
I  havo  fiijovi'il.  Wliat  a  (lilVi'ioiui'.  I  can  read  forty  pa^es  nf 
Kroiich  in  tlh>  tinii>  that  it  wouM  rfqiiiri'  ino  to  coinpri-hi  iid  lv,o 
of  English."  I  tonnd  al'triwanls  that  his  anxioty  to  see  ihi-ni 
was  so  great,  that  he  had  labored  hard  himself,  with  a  liaiiirner 
and  ehistl,  in  opening  the  eases  whieh  eontainod  them. 

21///. —  Saw  Napoleon  in  the  garden.  Told  him  that  Sir 
'lljomas  Reade  had  sent  up  seven  cases  of  books  to  ine  ft)r  him, 
and  that  the  governor  had  sent  me  two  guns  on  the  percussion 
prinfij>le  for  his  use,  and  had  desired  me  to  explain  the  manner 
in  whieh  they  were  constructed.  "  It  is  useless,"  replied  he,  "  to 
send  me  guns,  when  I  am  confined  to  a  place  where  there  is  no 
game."  I  told  him  that  Mr.  Baxter  had  come  up  to  have  the 
honor  of  being  introduced  to  him.  lie  desired  me  to  call  him. 
On  being  presented,  he  said,  smiling,  "  Well,  signor  medico,  how 
many  patients  have  you  killed  in  your  time?"  Afterwards,  he 
conversed  with  him  for  nearly  an  hour  on  various  subjects. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  told  me  that  "he  was  so  far  from  wishing 
to  prevent  any  letters  or  complaints  being  sent  to  Europe,  that 
he  had  offered  to  Bonaparte  to  forward  any  letters  or  statements 
he  wished  to  England,  and  not  only  would  he  do  so,  but  he 
would  have  them  i)rinted  in  the  newspapers,  in  French  and 
English." 

2"///. — A  Proclamation  issued  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  declaring 
that  any  person  holding  any  correspondence  or  communication 
with  Napoleon  B()naparte,  his  followers  or  attendants,  receiving 
from  or  delivering  to  him  or  them  letters  or  communications, 
without  express  authorization  from  the  governor,  under  his  hand, 
was  guilty  of  an  infraction  of  the  acts  of  parliament  for  his  safe 
custody,  and  would  l»e  prosecuted  with  all  the  rigor  of  the  law. 
Also,  that  any  person  or  persons  who  received  any  letters  or 
communic'itions  from  him,  his  followers,  or  attendants,  and  did 
not  immediately  deliver  or  make  known  the  same  to  the  governor, 
or,  w  ho  should  furnish  the  said  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  his  followers, 
or  attendants,  with  money,  or  any  other  means  whatever,  whereby 
his  escape  might  be  furthered,  would  be  considered  to  be  aidinij 


1816— JULY.  43 

and  assisting  in  the  same,  and  would  be  proceeded  against  ao 
cordingly. 

July  \st. — A  letter  sent  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to  Count  Ber- 
trand,  prohibiting  all  sort  of  communications,  either  written  or 
verbal,  with  the  inhabitants,  except  such  as  shall  have  been 
previously  made  known  to  him  (the  governor)  through  the 
orderly  officer. 

Since  the  arrival  of  the  books,  the  Emperor  has  been  daily 
occupied  for  several  hours  in  reading  and  collecting  dates  and 
other  materials  for  the  history  of  his  life,  which  is  written  up  to 
his  landing  in  France  from  Egypt.  The  state  of  the  weather 
also,  the  almost  constant  rain  or  fog,  with  the  strong  wind  con- 
tinually blowing  over  the  bleak  and  exposed  situation  of  Long- 
wood,  had  contributed  much  to  keep  him  within  doors,  and  disgust 
him  with  his  present  residence.  He  expressed  a  wish  to  be 
removed  to  the  leeward  side  of  the  island,  which  is  warmer,  and 
protected  from  the  eternal  sharp  south-east  wind. 

Ath. — Sir  Pulteney  and  Lady  Malcolm  had  an  interview  of 
nearly  two  hours  with  Napoleon,  who  was  much  pleased  with 
both.  During  the  conversation  he  entered  much  into  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  naval  tactics,  &c.  The  officers  of 
the  Newcastle  were  also  presented  to  him.  The  meat,  which  has 
generally  been  of  a  bad  quality,  is  to-day  so  detestable,  that 
Captain  Poppleton  felt  himself  obliged  to  send  it  back,  and  write 
a  complaint  to  the  governor. 

Qth. — Madam  Bertrand  informed  Captain  Poppleton  and 
myself,  that  she  had  written  a  letter  to  Montchenu,  in  which  she. 
requested  of  him  to  call  and  see  her  at  Hut's  Gate,  as  she  had 
heard  that  he  had  seen  her  mother,  who  was  in  an  indifferent  state 
of  heiilth,  and  was  very  desirous  to  inquire  about  her.  That 
Las  Cases  would  also  come  and  meet  him  on  his  arrival  at  her 
house,  as  he  was  informed  that  Montchenu  had  seen  his  wife  a 
short  time  before  his  departure  from  Paris. 

8iA. — The  servants  from  Longwood,  bringing  the  provisions  to 
Bertrand's^.  stopped  by  the  sentinels,  and  not  allowed  to  enter  the 
court,  i-uc  viands  were,  at  last,  handed  over  the  wall,  in  pre- 
sence of  a  sentinel,  who  said,  he  c(ni1d  not  permit  any  conversa 


41  A    VOICE    FROM    SI.    IlfXENA. 

tion  to  tflko  phico.  A  similar  scono  took  place,  when  my  set. 
vunt  hrouijht  some  nu'diciiu's  for  Bertrand's  servant,  Bernard, 
who  was  dajigerousiy  ill.  llouiid  one  of  the  bottles  there  was  » 
lahel  in  my  handwriting,  eontaining  directions  how  to  take  the 
medieine.  This  was  written  in  French,  and  the  sentinel  not 
lining  al)le  to  miderstand  it,  thought  it  his  duty  not  to  suffer  it  t> 
fiitiT,  and  it  was  aeeordingly  torn  c»ff.  A  sentinel  was  relieved 
the  day  before,  and  sent  to  camp  to  be  tried  by  a  court-martial, 
for  having  allowed  a  black  to  go  into  Bertrand's  court  to  get  a 
drink  of  water,  which  probably  has  given  rise  to  this  increased 
rigor  on  the  part  of  the  soldiers. 

9th. — A  letter  of  expostulation  sent  this  morning  to  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe.  Some  conversation  at  Longwood,  relative  to  a  ma- 
chine for  making  ice,  said  by  some  of  the  officers  of  the  New- 
castle to  have  been  sent  by  Lady  Holland  for  Napoleon's  use, 
but  which  has  not  yet  made  its  appearance. 

\OtJi. —  A  great  deficiency  has  existed  for  several  days  in  the 
quantity  of  wine,  fowls,  and  other  necessary  articles.  Wrote  to 
Sir  Thomas  Reade  about  it.  Captain  Poppleton  also  went  to 
town  himself  to  lay  the  matter  before  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 

11///. — While  at  Hut's  Gate,  a  serjeant  came  in  with  a  mes- 
sage from  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  desiring  me  to  follow  him.  His 
excellency  inquired  of  me  in  what  part  of  the  island  General 
Bonaparte  would  wish  to  have  his  new  house  built?  I  replied, 
"He  would  like  the  Briars."  Sir  Hudson  said,  that  would  never 
do,  that  it  was  too  near  the  town,  and  in  fact  out  of  the  question. 
He  then  asked  me,  if  I  thought  he  would  prefer  any  part  of  the 
island  to  Longwood  ?  I  said,  "  most  certainly  he  would  prefer 
a  habitation  on  the  other  side  of  the  island."  His  excellency 
then  desired  me  to  find  out  from  himself  what  part  of  the  island 
he  would  prefer.  He  also  said,  that  Napoleon  had  refused  to 
see  the  commissioners,  and  desired  me  to  ascertain  whether  he 
was  still  of  that  opinion.  His  excellency  asked  me  whether  I 
knew  what  they  wanted  with  the  Marquis  Montchenu.  I  applied, 
that  Madame  Hertrand  wished  to  inquire  after  her  mother's 
health,  and  that  Las  Cases  was  to  have  met  him  at  Hut's  Gate ; 
and  that  1  was  informed  he  was  very  anxious  to  inquire  about 


1816— JULY.  46 

his  wife,  as  he  had  been  told  that  Montchenu  had  seen  her  shortly 
before  his  departure  from  Paris.  Sir  Hudson  observed  that  he 
would  report  Las  Cases  to  the  British  government,  for  having 
Bontemptuously  refused  to  receive  or  accept  some  articles  sent 
for  the  supply  of  the  generals  and  others  with  Bonaparte,  while 
at  the  same  time  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Lady  Clavering,  desiring 
that  some  articles  of  a  similar  nature  to  those  so  offered  might 
be  purchased  and  sent  ore  to  him.  He  then  again  assured  me 
of  his  readiness,  not  or  y  to  transmit  their  complaints  to  his 
majesty's  government,  but  that  he  would  also  cause  them  to  be 
published;  and  told  me  that  he  much  wished  me  to  let  him 
know  General  Bonaparte's  wants  and  wishes,  in  order  that  he 
might  communicate  them  to  his  government,  which  would  thus 
know  how  to  anticipate  and  provide  for  any  demands.  Desired 
me  also  to  tell  Madame  Bertrand  that  he  was  very  sorry  any 
restrictions,  which  he  had  imposed,  were  disagreeable  to  her  or 
hurtful  to  her  feelings,  though  it  appeared  to  him  that  she  had 
been  made  a  tool  of,  which  he  advised  her  not  to  try  again. 
After  this,  he  went  to  Longwood,  where  he  had  a  long  conversa- 
tion with  General  Montholon,  chiefly  about  altering,  enlarging, 
and  improving  Longwood  House. 

I2(h. — Napoleon  rather  melancholy.  I  informed  him  that  the 
governor  had  been  at  Longwood  yesterday,  in  order  to  see  if  he 
could  aflford  greater  comfort  and  accommodation  to  him,  either 
by  building  some  additional  rooms  to  the  house  already  existing 
at  Longwood,  or  erecting  a  new  house  in  some  other  part  of  the 
island ;  and  that  the  governor  had  charged  me  to  inquire  from 
him  which  he  would  prefer.  He  replied,  "^  q^^esla  casa,  o  in 
questo  luogo  tristo  non  voqlio  niente  di  lui  (In  this  house,  or  in 
this  sad  place,  I  will  have  nothing  of  him.)  I  hate  this  Long- 
wood.  The  sight  of  it  makes  me  melancholy.  Let  him  put  me 
in  some  place  where  there  is  shade,  verdure,  and  water.  Here 
it  either  blows  a  furious  wind,  loaded  with  rain  and  fog,  die  mi 
taglia  Vanima  (which  cuts  me  through)  ;  or,  if  that  is  wanting, 
il  sole  mi  brucia  il  cervello  (or  the  sun  broils  my  brain),  through 
the  want  of  shade,  when  I  go  out.  Let  him  put  me  on  the 
Plantation  House  side  of  the   island,  if  he  really    wishes  to  do 


44  ▲   VOICE    FUOM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

ui^'thing  fur  iiu-.  Hiit  \\  liat  is  tlic  use  of  his  ottining  up  here 
proposing  things,  imil  doing  nolliing.  'I'liore  is  not  rand's  house 
Mot  thr  li'iist  ndvam-rd  siiur  his  arrival.  The  admiral  at  h'ast 
sent  his  i'ar|Hnti'r  hiTo,  who  made  the  work  go  on."  I  ri-plied, 
that  the  governor  had  desired  me  to  say,  that  he  did  not  like  to 
undertake  anything  with«)ut  first  knowing  that  it  would  meet 
v\ilh  his  approval  ;  hut  that  if  he  (Napoleon)  would  fix,  or  pro- 
pose ft  plan  for  the  house,  he  would  order  ev<"ry  workman  on  the 
island,  with  a  j)rt)portionate  numner  ^  engineei  officers,  4ic.,  to 
proceed  to  Ivongwood,  and  set  about  it.  ''hat  the  governor  feared, 
that  making  additions  to  the  present  Imilding  would  annoy  him 
by  the  noise  of  the  workmen.  lie  replied,  "  Certainly  it 
would.  I  do  not  wish  him  to  do  do  anything  to  this  house,  or 
on  this  dismal  place.  Let  him  build  a  house  on  the  other  side 
of  the  island,  where  there  is  shade,  verdure,  and  water,  and 
where  I  may  be  sheltered  from  this  venfo  agro  (disagri-ealde 
wind.)  If  it  is  determined  to  build  a  new  house  for  my  use,  I 
would  wish  to  have  it  erected  on  the  estate  of  Colonel  Smith, 
which  Bert  rand  has  been  to  look  at,  or  at  Rosemary  Hall.  But 
his  projposals  are  all  a  delusion.  Nothing  advances  since  he 
came.  Look  there,"  pointing  to  the  window.  "  I  was  obliged 
to  order  a  pair  of  sheets  to  be  put  up  as  curtains,  as  the  others 
were  so  dirty  I  could  not  approach  them,  and  none  could  be  ob- 
tained to  replace  them.  '  E  un  trist'  uomo,  e  peggio  delV  isola 
(He  is  a  bad  man,  and  worse  than  the  island.)  Remark  his  con- 
duct to  quella  povera  dama  (this  poor  lady),  Madame  Bertrand. 
lie  has  deprived  her  of  the  little  lil)erty  she  had,  and  has  pre- 
vented [Kople  from  coming  to  visit  and  havarder  (discourse)  for 
an  hour  with  her,  which  was  some  little  solace  to  a  lady  who  had 
always  been  accustomed  to  see  company."  I  observed,  that  the 
governor  had  said  it  was  in  consequence  of  Madame  Bcrtrand's 
having  sent  a  note  to  the  Marquis  Montchenu,  without  having 
first  caused  it  to  pass  through  the  governor's  hands.  "Trash," 
replied  he;  "  by  the  regulations  in  existence  when  he  arnVed,  it 
was  permitted  to  send  notes  to  residents,  and  no  communication 
of  an  alteration  having  taking  place  was  made  to  them.  Be- 
tides, could  not  she  and   her  husband  have  gone  to  town  to  se« 


1816— JULY.  47 

Montchenu  1  Weak  men  are  always  timorous  and  suspicious. 
This  man  is  fit  to  be  un  capo  di  sbirri  (a  captain  of  spies),  but 
not  a  governor." 

ISth. — Went  to  town,  and  communicated  Napoleon's  reply  to 
Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  did  not  seem  to  like  it ;  and  said  that  he 
could  not  so  easily  be  watched.  I  observed  that  I  thought 
easier,  as  he  would  then  be  in  the  midst  of  his  (Sir  Hudson's) 
staff;  and,  moreover,  as  the  spots  in  question  were  nearly  sur- 
rounded with  high  and  unequal  rocks,  it  would  be  extremely 
easy  to  place  picquets  in  such  a  manner  as  to  preclude  the  pos- 
sibility of  escape,  and,  at  the  same  time,  be  unseen  by  the 
captive.  His  excellency,  at  first,  assented  to  this ;  but  a  moment 
afterwards  observed  that  he  should  not  know  where  to  place  the 
Austrian  commissioner,  who  had  taken  Rosemary  Hall.  I  ven- 
tured to  suggest  to  him  that  however  desirable  an  object  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  Baron  Sturmer  might  be,  still  it  was  one 
of  much  minor  importance  to  that  of  the  principal  detenu.  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  after  a  moment's  silence,  asked  me  if  I  had  com- 
municated his  message  to  Madame  Bertrand,  to  which  I  replied 
in  the  affirmative.  He  observed  that  he  had  not  sufficiently  ex- 
plained his  motives  in  imposing  some  additional  restrictions,  as 
the  fact  was,  that  Sir  George  Cockburn,  prior  to  his  departure, 
had  pointed  out  to  him  the  great  inconveniency  of  the  existing 
order  of  things,  and  the  necessity  there  was  of  perventing  such 
free  access  to  Bei'trand's  house.  That  he  had  strongly  recom- 
mended the  adoption  of  the  restrictions  which  he  (Sir  Hudson) 
had  since  thought  it  his  duty  to  impose,  which  the  admiral  de- 
clared it  was  his  own  intention  to  have  ordered,  had  he  not  been 
in  daily  expectation  of  the  new  governor's  arrival.  That  the 
liberal  access  to  Bertrand  had  been  originally  permitted  in  con- 
sequence  of  a  supposition,  that  the  new  house  for  his  use  at  Long- 
wood  would  soon  be  finished,  after  which  he  would  be  placed  on 
a  similar  footing  with  the  other  attendants  of  General  Bonaparte. 
This  he  desired  me  to  communicate  to  the  countess;  and  said, 
that  he  would  consider  about  building  the  new  house  upon  the 
spot  which  I  had  pointed  out;  adding,  that  "Colonel  Smith's  and 
Rosemary  Hall  must  go  together." 


48  A    VOICE    FROM   ST.    IIKLRNA. 

15/A. — Nup<>l«»«>ii  Milt  very  early  in  the  caniufre. 

lO/A. — Napolomi,  who  had  j»ono  down  to  the  stal)I«'s  at  an 
early  hour,  and  ortlorod  the  horses  to  l>e  put  to  himself,  overtook 
ine  in  the  park,  and  made  me  get  into  the  earriage.  Complained 
of  his  teeth.  Breakfasted  with  him.  During  the  meal,  th»'  suh 
ject  of  the  commissioners  was  introduced.  He  asked,  "  if  Ma- 
dame Sturmer  had  ever  seen  him  at  Paris."  1  repli«'d,  that  she 
had,  and  was  very  desirous  to  see  him  again.  "  And  who  prevents 
herl"  said  he.  I  replied,  that  herself  and  her  husband,  as  well 
jis  the  rest  of  the  commissioners,  believe  that  you  will  not  receive 
them.  "  Who  told  them  so?"  said  he,  *'  I  am  willing  to  receive 
them,  whenever  they  please  to  ask  through  Bertrand.  I  shall 
receive  them  as  private  characters,  I  never  refuse  to  see  any  per- 
son, when  asked  in  a  proper  way,  and  especially,  I  should  be 
always  glad  to  see  a  lady." 

"  It  appears,"  said  he,  "  that  your  ministers  have  sent  out  a 
great  many  articles  of  dress  for  us,  and  other  things,  which  it  is 
supposed  might  be  wanted.  Now,  if  this  governor  was  possessed 
of  the  feelings  of  a  gentleman,  he  would  have  sent  a  list  of  them 
to  Bertrand,  stating  that  the  English  government  had  sent  a 
supply  of  certain  articles  which  it  was  thought  we  might  want, 
and  that  if  we  stood  in  need  of  them,  we  might  order  such  as  we 
pleased.  But.  instead  of  acting  in  a  manner  pointed  out  by  the 
rules  of  politeness,  this  gedlier  converts  into  an  insult  what  pro- 
bablv  your  government  intended  as  a  civility,  by  selecting  what 
things  he  himself  pleases,  and  sending  them  up  in  a  contemptuous 
manner,  without  consulting  us,  as  if  he  were  sending  alms  to  a 
set  of  be^cars,  or  clothing  to  convicts.  Veramente  ha  il  cunre  di 
bfjja,  (he  has  indeed  the  heart  of  a  hangman,)  for  nobody  but  a 
boja  would  unnecessarily  increase  the  miseries  of  people  situated 
like  us,  already  too  mihappy.  His  hands  soil  every  thing  that 
passes  through  ihcin.  See  how  he  torments  that  poor  lady, 
Madame  Bertrand,  by  depriving  her  of  the  little  society  she  was 
accustomed  to,  and  which  is  necessary  to  her  existence.  It  is  not 
punishing  her  husband,  who,  if  he  has  a  book,  is  contented.  I  am 
astonished  that  he  allows  you,  or  Poppleton  to  remain  near  me. 
He  would   willingly   watch   me  himself  always,   were  it  in  his 


1816— JULY.  49 

power.  Have  you  any  galley-slaves  in  England  ?"  I  replied, 
No;  but  ihat  w^e  had  some  convicts  who  were  condemned  to 
work  at  Portsmouth  and  elsewhere.  "  Then,''  said  he,  "  he  ought 
to  have  been  made  keeper  of  them.  It  would  be  exactly  the 
office  suited  for  him." 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  to  Longwood,  and  had  an  inter- 
view with  him  for  a  short  time. 

nth. — Napoleon  called  me  into  the  garden  to  him.  Informed 
me  that  he  had  t<jld  the  governor  that  he  had  unnecessarily  in 
creased  their  restrictions  ;  that  he  had,  without  any  reason,  pun- 
ished Madame  Bertrand  ;  that  he  had  insulted  them  by  his 
manner  of  sending  up  the  articles  sent  for  their  use  ;  that  he  had 
insulted  Las  Cases,  by  telling  him  that  he  had  read  his  letters, 
and  by  informing  him,  that  if  he  wanted  a  pair  of  shoes  or 
stockings,  he  must  first  send  to  him.  "  I  told  him,"  added  he, 
"  that  if  Bertrand  or  Las  Cases  wanted  to  foi-m  a  plot  with  the 
commissioners,  (which  he  appeared  to  be  afraid  of,)  that  he  had 
nothing  more  to  do,  than  to  go  to  the  town  and  make  an  appoint- 
ment with  any  of  them  to  come  up  inside  of  the  alarm-house, 
and  meet  him.  I  told  him  that  it  was  a  disgrace  to  him,  who 
was  vested  with  authority,  to  insult  a  man  like  Bertrand,  who 
was  esteemed  by  all  Europe." 

He  then  spoke  about  the  new  house,  and  said,  that  if  he  ex- 
pected to  remain  long  in  St.  Helena,  he  would  wish  to  have  it 
erected  at  the  Plantation  House  side  ;  "  but,"  continued  he,  "  I 
am  of  opinion  that  as  soon  as  the  afiairs  of  France  are  settled, 
and  things  quiet,  the  English  government  will  allow  me  to  re- 
turn to  Europe,  and  finish  my  days  in  England.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  they  are  foolish  enough  to  be  at  the  expense  of  eight 
millions  annually,  to  keep  me  here,  when  I  am  no  longer  to  be 
feared  ;  I  therefore  am  not  very  anxious  about  the  house."  He 
then  spoke  about  escape,  and  said,  that  even  if  he  were  inclined 
to  try  it,  there  were  ninety-eight  chances  out  of  a  hundred  against 
his  succeeding ;  "  notwithstanding  which,"  continued  he,  "  this 
gaoler  imposes  as  many  restrictions,  as  if  I  had  nothing  more  to 
do  than  to  step  into  a  boat  and  be  off.  It  is  true,  that  while  one 
lives,  there  is   always  a  chance,  although  chained,  enclosed  in  a 

3 


M)  A    VOIC'K    FROM    SI.    IIKI.KNA. 

oell,  ami  ovorv  Iniinaii  pr-'i-autioii  taken,  there  is  still  a  eiiancc  o/ 
escHpo,  and  tlie  o\\\y  elVeetiial  way  tu  prevent  it  is  to  put  nie  to 
death.  //  ;i'y  a  ijue  lis  marts  qui  tie  rcvicnnent pas.  (It  is  only 
the  dead  who  do  not  return.)  Then  all  uneasiness  on  the  part 
(.>f  the  European  powers,  and  Lord  Castlereagh,  will  cease  :  no 
more  expense,  no  more  squadrons  to  watch  me,  or  poor  soldiers 
fatigued  to  death,  with  ]>ie(piets  and  guards,  or  harassed  carrying 
loads  up  those  rocks." 

IS///. — !Sir  Hudson  came  to  Longwood,  antl  arranged  some 
matters  with  General  Montholon  relative  to  the  house.  Every 
thing  connected  with  the  alterations  in  the  building  put  under 
the  direction  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wynyard,  assisted  l)y  Lieu 
tenant  Jackson  of  the  staff  corps.  A  billiard-taltle  brought  up 
to  Longwood. 

\9th. — ITie  drawinii-room  of  Longwood  House  discovered  to 
be  on  fire  at  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  was  extin- 
guished in  about  half  an  hour,  by  great  exertions  on  the  part  of 
Captain  Poppleton,  and  the  guard,  aided  by  the  household.  It 
had  reached  within  a  few  inches  of  the  upper  flooring,  which 
was  formed  of  a  double  boarding.  ILad  this  caught  fire,  it 
Would  have  been  nearly  impossible  to  have  saved  the  building, 
as  there  is  no  water  at  Longwood. 

20///. — Some  curtains  for  the  emperor's  bed  sent  up  to  me  by 
Sir  Thomas  Reade. 

22/1(1. — Dined  in  camp,  on  occasion  of  the  anniversary  of  the 
battle  of  Salamanca.  Present,  his  excellency  and  staff,  heads  of 
department,  &c. 

24th. — The  admiral  sent  up  a  lieutenant  and  party  of  seamen 
to  pitch  a  tent,  formed  of  a  lower  studding-saii,  as  no  shade  was 
afforded  by  the  trees  at  Longwood.  Colonel  Maunsell,  of  the 
53d,  asked  me  to  exert  myself  in  order  to  procure,  through 
Count  Bertrand,  for  Dr.  Ward  (who  had  been  eighteen  years  in 
India)  an  interview  with  Napoleon.  Count  Bertrand  accordingly 
made  the  application  to  the  emperor,  who  replied,  that  "  Dr 
Ward  must  apply  in  person  to  Count  Bertrand." 

2r)fh. — Told  Napoleon  that  the  Griffon  had  arrived  from  Eng 
l»nd  the  night  before,  and  had  brought  the  news  of  the  ccndemna 


1816 — JULY.  51 

tiou  of  General  Bertrand  to  death,  though  absent.  He  appeared 
for  a  nionient  lost  in  astonishment,  and  much  concerned;  but  re- 
collecting himself,  observed,  that  by  the  laws  of  France,  a  man 
accused  of  a  capital  offence  might  be  tried,  and  condemned  to 
death,  par  contiimace,  but  that  they  could  not  act  upon  such  a 
sentence;  that  the  individual  must  be  tried  again,  and  be  actually 
present ;  that  if  Bertrand  were  now  in  France,  he  would  be  ac- 
quitted, as  Drouot  had  been.  He  expressed,  however,  much 
sorrow  at  it,  on  account  of  the  effect  which  it  might  probably 
produce  upon  Madame  Bertrand.  "  In  revolutions,"  continued 
he,  "  every  thing  is  forgotten.  The  benefits  you  confer  to-day, 
are  forgotten  to-morrow.  The  side  once  changed,  gratitude, 
friendship,  parentage,  every  tie  vanishes,  and  all  sought  for  is 
selfinterest." 

26^/i.— Saw  Napoleon  at  his  toilette.  While  dressing,  he  is 
attended  by  Marchand,  St.  Denis,  and  Novarre.  One  of  the 
latter  holds  a  looking-glass  before  him,  and  the  other  the  neces- 
sary implements  for  shaving,  while  Marchand  is  in  waiting  to 
hand  his  clothes,  eau  de  Cologne,  &c.  (cologne  water.)  When  he 
has  gone  over  one  side  of  his  face  with  the  razor,  he  asks  St. 
Denis  or  Novarre,  "  Is  it  done?"  and  after  receiving  an  answer 
commences  on  the  other.  After  he  has  finished,  the  glass  is  held 
before  him  to  the  light,  and  he  examines  whether  he  has  re- 
moved every  portion  of  his  beard.  If  he  perceives  or  feels  that 
any  remains,  he  sometimes  lays  hold  of  one  of  them  by  the  ear, 
or  gives  him  a  gentle  slap  on  the  cheel<,  in  a  good-humored  man- 
ner, crying,  "Ah,  coqum,  why  did  you  tell  me  it  was  done?" 
This,  probably,  has  given  rise  to  the  report  of  his  having  been  in 
the  habit  of  beating  and  otherwise  ill-treating  his  domestics.  He 
then  washes  with  water,  in  which  some  eau  de  Cvhujne  has  been 
mingled,  a  little  of  which  he  also  sprinkles  over  his  person,  very 
carefully  picks  and  cleans  his  teeth,  frequently  has  himself  rubbed 
with  a  flesh-brush,  changes  his  linen  and  flannel  waistcoat,  and 
dresses  in  white  kerseymere  (or  brown  nankeen)  breeches,  white 
waistcoat,  silk  stockings,  shoes  and  gold  buckles,  and  a  green 
single-breasted  coat  with  white  buttons,  black  stock,  with  none 
of  the  white  shirt-collar  appearing  above  it,  and  a  three-cornere<^ 


62  A   VOICE    FKO.M    ST.    HELENA. 

Miiuill  Ci>cl><d  hut,  with  h  litlle  tri-culor(.'il  coekado.  When 
dre.^sod,  he  ttl\va\  s  woais  the  cordon  and  grand  cross  uf  the 
K'jjion  of  honor.  When  he  has  put  on  his  coat,  a  lillle  hotibon- 
nitrt\  (htix  of  sweetmeats,)  liis  snntl'-liox,  and  handkcreliief, 
sceiited  with  can  de  C(>ii'(/ne,  are  handed  to  iiini  Itv  Mareliand, 
and  he  leaves  the  chamber. 

Napoh'oii  coinphiined  of  a  slight  jiain  in  his  right  side.  1  ad- 
viseil  him  to  get  it  well  rublied  with  euii  de  CuUxjne  and  flannel, 
and  also  suggested  a  dose  of  physic.  At  this  last  ho  laughed, 
and  gave  nie  a  friendly  slap  on  the  cheek.  lie  asked  the  causes 
of  the  liver  complaint,  now  very  prevalent  in  the  island.  I  enu- 
merated several,  and  amongst  others,  drunkenness  and  hot  cli- 
mates. "  If,"  said  he,  "  drunkeiniess  be  a  cause,  1  ought  never 
to  have  it." 

'ilth. — Colonel  Keating,  late  governor  of  the  isle  of  Bourbon, 
had  an  interview  with  Napoleon,  which  lasted  for  nearly  an 
hour. 

2Sth. — Informed  by  Cipriani,  that  in  the  beginning  of  1815, 
he  had  been  sent  from  Elba  to  Leghorn,  to  purchase  100,000 
francs  worth  of  furniture  for  Napoleon's  palace.  During  his 
stay,  he  became  very  intimate  with  a  person  named  *  *  *,  who 
had  a  *  *  *  at  Vienna,  from  whom  a  private  intimation  was 
sent  to  him,  that  it  was  the  determination  of  the  congress  of  Vi- 
enna to  send  the  emperor  to  St.  Helena,  and  even  had  sent  him 
a  paper  containing  the  substance  of  the  agreement,  a  copy  of 
which  he  gave  to  Cipriani,  who  departed  instantly  for  Ell»a,  to 
communicate  the  information  he  had  received  to  the  emperor. 
This,  with  the  confirmation  which  he  afterwards  received  from 
M  *  *  *  A  *  *  and  M  *  *  *  at  Vienna,  contributed  to  deter, 
mine  Napoleon  to  attempt  the  recovery  of  his  throne. 

Accompanied  Napoleon  in  his  evening  drive.  Informed  him 
that  Sir  Thomas  Reade  had  begged  me  to  acquaint  him  that  the 
Russian  commissioner  had  taken  no  part  in  the  official  note  ad- 
dressed to  the  governor,  and  containing  a  request  to  see  him 
(Napoleon.)  He  observed,  that  if  they  wished  to  see  him,  they 
had  taken  very  Ijad  measures,  as  all  the  powers  of  Europe  should 
uot  induce  him  to  receive    them  as   official    characters.     They 


1816 — AUGUST.  53 

might  break  open  the  door,  or  level  the  house  down  and  find 
him.  He  then  observed,  that  a  book*  relative  to  his  last  reign 
in  France  had  been  lately  sent  out  by  the  author,  (an  English- 
man,) to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  with  a  request  that  it  should  be  de 
livered  to  him.  On  the  back  was  inscribed,  in  k'tters  of  gold, — 
to  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  or,  to  the  Great  Napoleon.  '•  Now,'' 
continued  he,  "  this  galeriano  would  not  allow  the  book  to  be  sent 
to  me,  because  it  had  the  '  Emperor  Napoleon'  written  upon  it ; 
because  he  thought  that  it  would  give  me  some  pleasure  to  see  that 
all  men  were  not  like  him,  and  that  I  was  esteemed  by  some  of  his 
nation.  Non  credevo  die  un  xiomo  poteva  essere  basso  e  vile  a  tal 
segno.''''     (I  did  not  believe  that  a  man  could  be  so  low  and  vile.) 

Since  the  arrival  of  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  there  has  been  a  great 
alteration  in  the  number  of  newspapers  sent  to  Longwood.  In- 
stead of  receiving,  as  heretofore,  a  regular  series  of  some  papers, 
as  well  as  many  detached  ones,  only  a  few  irregular  numbers 
of  the  Times  have  arrived,  and  occasionally  a  Courier.  This 
has  caused  great  anxiety  at  Longwood  to  those  who  have  rela- 
tions in  France,  and  given  much  displeasure  to  Napoleon,  to 
whom  Sir  George  Cockburn  frequently  sent  up  papers,  before 
perusing  them  himself. 

August  2d. — Made  a  complaint  to  the  purveyors  that  no  vege- 
tables, except  potatoes,  had  been  sent  up  for  three  days ;  and  re- 
quested, that  if  he  was  not  permitted  to  furnish  any  more,  my 
letter  might  be  transmitted  to  Major  Gorrequer. 

Sd. — Received  an  answer  from  Mr.  Fowler,  clerk  to  the  pur- 
veyors, informing  me  that  they  had  been  ordered  to  send  no 
more  vegetables,  which,  they  had  been  informed  by  Major  G. 
were  in  future  to  be  furnished  from  the  honorable  company '& 
garden 

Colonel  Maunsel  presented  this  day  by  Sir  George  Bingham. 
Napoleon  conversed  for  a  short  time  with  the  latter. 

bth. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  to  Longwood,  and  calling  me 
aside  in  a  mysterious  manner,  asked  if  I  thought  that  "  General 
Bonaparte  "  would  take  it  well  if  he  invited  him  to  come  to  a 
ball  at  Plantation  House,  on  the  Prince  Regent's  birth-day  1     I 

*  *'  The  last  Keiga  of  the  Emperor  Napoleou,"  by  Mr.  Hobhou»«. 


M  A   TOICK    FKOM    ST     nKI.KNA. 

roplit'tl,  tlmt  iiiuliT  all  circimistiuicc^^,  I  llioiii^lii  it  most  probable 
that  ho  wouKl  lock  upon  it  as  an  insult,  especially  if  made  to 
"  General  Bonaparte.''''  His  exeelleney  reniarked,  that  ho  would 
avoid  that,  hy  asking  him  in  person.  I  said,  that  I  would  recom- 
mend hit!)  to  consult  Count  Ri-rtrand  fin  the  subject,  which  he  said 
ho  would  do.  He  then  referred  to  a  [irior  conversation,  and  in- 
formed me  that  he  was  of  opinion  my  .«ialary  ought  to  be  aug- 
mented to  500/.  per  annum,  and  that  he  would  certainly  write  to 
Lord  Bathursl  and  recommend  it.  After  this,  he  spoke  about 
Mr.  ITobhouse's  book,  observed,  that  he  could  not  send  it  to 
Longwood,  as  it  had  not  been  forwarded  through  the  channel  of 
the  secretary  of  state ;  moreover,  that  Lord  Castlercagh  was  ex- 
tremely ill  spoken  of,  and  that  he  had  no  idea  of  allowing  Gen- 
eral Bonaparte  to  read  a  book  in  which  a  British  minister  was 
treatea  in  such  a  manner,  or  even  to  know  that  a  work  contain- 
ing such  reflections  could  be  published  in  England.  I  ven- 
tured to  observe  to  his  excellency,  that  Napoleon  was  very 
desirous  to  see  the  book,  and  that  he  could  not  confer  a  much 
greater  favor  than  to  send  it  up.  Sir  Hudson  replied,  that  Mr. 
Hobhouse,  in  the  letter  which  accompanied  it,  had  permitted 
him  to  place  it  in  his  own  library,  if  he  did  not  think  himself 
authorized  to  send  it  to  its  original  destination. 

6th. — Napoleon  again  entered  on  the  suVjject  of  the  book,  the 
detention  of  which  by  the  governor  he  declared  to  be  illegal ;  and 
that  even  if  he  were  a  prisoner  under  sentence  of  death,  the 
governor's  conduct  would  not  l)e  justifiable  in  detaining  a  printed 
and  published  book,  in  which  there  was  no  secret  correspondence 
or  treason,  because  there  were  some  bki.ses  in  it.  By  "  bitiaes,^' 
he  meant  the  inscription  addressed  to  him. 

A  lieutenant,  two  midshipmen,  and  a  party  of  seamen  em- 
ployed in  repairing  the  tent,  which  had  suffered  materially  in  the 
late  bad  weather.  Napoleon  went  up,  and  conversed  for  a  short 
time  with  the  midshipmen,  one  of  whom,  by  a  strange  coin- 
cidence, happened  to  the  son  of  Mr,  Drake,  notorious  for  his 
conduct  at  Munich. 

10/A. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up,  while  Napoleon  was  at 
breakfast  in  the  tent,  in  order  to  see  him,  but  did  not  succeed. 


1816 — AUGUST.  56 

I2th. — Grand  field  day  at  camp,  in  iionor  of  tlie  prince  regent. 
Explained  to  him  that  in  all  our  colonies  his  royal  highness'a 
birth-day  was  celebrated.  "  Gia,  gia,^''  (already,  already)  said 
he,  '■'■  naturalmente.''''  Asked  me  if  I  were  asked  to  dine  with  the 
governor  1  I  replied,  no;  but  that  I  was  asked  to  the  ball  in  the 
evening. 

Wth. — Napoleon  went  out  to  ride  this  morning  for  the  first 
time  for  eight  weeks.  Informed  me  that  he  had  so  severe  a 
headache,  that  he  had  determined  to  try  the  effect  of  a  little  exer- 
cise. "  But,"  continued  he,  "  the  limits  are  so  circumscribed, 
that  I  can  not  ride  for  more  than  an  hour  ;  and  in  order  to  do  me 
any  good,  I  should  ride  very  hard  for  three  or  four.  Here  has 
been,"  continued  he,  "  that  sbirro  Siciliano,  (Sicilian  spy.)  I 
would  have  remained  in  the  tent  an  hour  longer,  if  I  had  not 
been  informed  of  his  arrival.  Ml  ripugna  Vanima  il  vederlo.  (It 
disgusts  me  to  the  soul  to  see  him.)  He  is  perpetually  unquiet, 
and  appears  always  in  a  passion  with  somebody,  or  uneasy,  as  if 
something  tormented  his  conscience,  and  that  he  was  anxious  to 
run  away  from  himself" 

"  A  man,  to  be  well  fitted  for  the  situation  of  governor  of  St. 
Helena,"  he  observed,  "ought  to  be  a  person  of  great  politeness, 
and  at  the  same  time  of  great  firmness — one  who  could  gloss 
over  a  refusal,  and  lessen  the  miseries  of  the  defenvs,  (prisoners) 
instead  of  eternally  putting  them  in  mind  that  they  were  con- 
sidered as  prisoners.  Instead  of  such  a  man,  they  had  sent  out 
un  uomo  non  conosciuto,  che  non  a  mai  cotnandato,  che  non  ha 
nessun  ordine,  ne  sistema,  che  non  sa  farsi  uhbidire,  che  non  ha  ne 
manifira,  ne  creanza — e  che  pare  che  abbia  sempre  vhsitto  con  del 
hdrV  (A  man  unknown,  who  has  never  commanded,  who  has 
aeither  order  nor  system,  who  knows  not  how  to  make  himself 
obeyed,  who  has  neither  manners  nor  credit,  who  seems  rather 
to  have  vegetated  than  lived,  and  that  with  villains.) 

\bth. — Anniversary  of  Napoleon's  birth-day.  Breakfasted  in 
the  tent  with  the  ladies  and  all  his  suite,  including  Piontkowski 
and  the  children.  There  was,  however,  no  change  of  uniform 
or  additional  decorations.  In  the  evening,  the  second  class  of 
domestics,  including  the  English,  had  a  grand  supper,  and  a  dance 


C6  A    V.'ICK    KUOM    ST.    HKLKNA. 

sftorwards.  To  tlu'  Hstonishiiioiil  of  tin'  Freiicli,  not  an  EnglUb 
mail  ^ot  drunk. 

1()///. — Sir  Hudson  I.owi'  <.'anic  u|>,  ami  liad  a  long  tonvcrsa- 
tioii  with  Gonoral  Mt)ntlu)li>n  and  nivsill".  principally  about  the 
necessity  of  redueing  the  expenses  of  the  estahlishnient ;  which 
ho  observed  was  not  conducted  with  a  due  regard  to  eoonon^y. 
Amongst  other  examples  of  what  he  considered  wasteful  expon- 
dilure,  he  stated  to  General  Monlholon  that  he  had  observed,  on 
looking  over  the  accounts  of  Plantation  House  and  Longwood, 
that  there  was  a  niuch  greatt-r  tpiantity  of  basket-salt  consumed 
at  the  latter  than  at  the  fonia-r;  he  desired,  therefore,  that  in 
future,  common  salt  [scl  (/ria)  ^Imuid  be  nsed  as  much  as  possible 
in  the  kitchen  and  at  the  table  of  the  servants. 

One  «if  Leslie's  pneumatic  machines  for  making  ice  sent  up  to 
Longwood  this  day.  As  soon  as  it  was  put  up,  I  went  and 
informed  Napoleon,  and  told  him  that  the  admiral  was  at  Long- 
wood.  He  asked  several  questions  about  the  process,  and  it 
was  evident  that  he  was  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  principles 
upon  which  air-pumps  are  formed.  He  expressed  great  admira- 
tion for  the  science  of  chemistry,  spoke  of  the  jrreat  improve- 
ments which  had  latterly  been  made  in  it,  and  observed  that  he 
had  always  promoted  and  encouraged  it  to  the  best  of  his  power. 
1  then  left  him,  and  proceeded  to  the  room  where  the  machine 
was,  in  order  to  commence  the  experiment  in  the  presence  of  the 
admiral.  In  a  few  minutes  Napoleon,  accompanied  by  Count 
Montholon,  came  in  and  accosted  the  admiral  in  a  very  pleasant 
manner,  seemingly  gratified  to  see  him.  A  cup  full  of  water 
was  then  frozen  in  his  presence  in  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  he 
waited  for  upwards  of  half  an  hour  to  see  if  the  same  quantify  of 
lemonade  would  freeze,  which  did  not  succeed.  Milk  w-as  then 
tried,  but  it  would  not  answer.  Napoleon  took  in  his  hand  the 
piece  of  ic«  produced  from  the  water,  and  observed  to  me,  what 
a  gratification  that  would  have  been  in  Egypt.  The  first  ice 
ever  seen  in  St.  Helena  was  made  by  this  machine,  and  was 
viewed  with  no  small  degree  of  surprise  by  the  ya/?i  stoc/,-s  ;* 
H)iue  of  whom  could  with  difficulty  be  persuaded  that  the  solid 

•  A  cant  uamo  for  the  natives  of  the  islaad. 


1816 — AUGUST.  67 

lump  in  their  hands  was  really  composed  of  water,  and  were  not 
fully  convinced  until  they  had  witnessed  its  liquefaction. 

Mth. — Went  to  Hut's  Gate  to  visit  Bertrand's  servant  Ber 
nard,  who  was  very  il..  The  Serjeant  of  the  guard  ordered  the 
sentry  to  be  confined  for  letting  me  in.  Went  out  to  inquire, 
and  was  informed  by  the  Serjeant  that  he  had  orders  to  prevent 
every  one  from  going  in  except  the  general  staff.  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe  had,  it  appeared,  given  some  directions  yesterday  himself, 
on  going  out  of  Bertrand's,  to  whom  he  showed  a  letter  from 
Lord  Bathurst,  stating  that  the  expenses  of  the  establishment 
must  be  reduced  to  8000/.  per  annum  for  everything.  Th,  -iien 
who  l)rt)ught  the  provisions  were  not  allowed  to  enter,  but  m 
obliged  to  hand  them  over  the  wall.  The  sei-vants  from  Long- 
wood  were  also  refused  admittance.  Mr.  Brookes,  the  colonial 
secretary,  was  also  denied  entrance.  A  letter  sent  by  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe  to  Count  Montholon,  making  a  demand  of  12,000/.  a 
year  for  the  maintenance  of  Napoleon  and  suite.* 

\9>th. — The  governor  and  admiral,  accompanied  by  Sir  Thomas 
Reade  and  Major  Gorrequer,  arrived  at  Longwood  while  Napo- 
leon was  walking  in  the  garden  with  Counts  Bertrand,  Montho- 
lon, Las  Cases,  and  son.  His  excellency  sent  to  ask  an  inter- 
view, which  was  granted.  It  tcjok  place  in  the  garden.  The 
three  principal  personages,  Napoleon,  Sir  Hudson,  and  Sir  Pul- 
teney,  were  a  little  in  front  of  the  others.  Captain  Poppleton 
and  myself  stood  at  some  distance  from  them,  but  sufficiently 
near  to  observe  their  gestures.  We  remarked  that  the  conver- 
sation was  principally  on  the  part  of  Napoleon,  who  appeared 
at  times  considerably  animated,  frequently  stopping  and  agaiii 
hurried  in  his  walk,  and  accompanying  his  words  with  a  good 
deal  of  action.  Sir  Hudson's  manner  also  appeared  hurried  and 
greatly  agitated.  The  admiral  was  the  only  one  who  appeared 
to  discourse  with  calmness.  In  about  half  an  hour  we  saw  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  abruptly  turn  about  and  withdraw,  without  salut- 
ing Napoleon.  The  admiral  took  off  his  hat,  made  his  bow, 
and  departed.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  to  where  Poppleton 
and  myself  were  standing,  paced   up  ami   down   in  an  agitated 

•  See  Appemlix,  No.  IV. 
3* 


68  A   VOICE    riiOM    ST.    HKI-KNA. 

ninniier,  whilo  his  horses  wore  coining,  ami  suid  to  nu-,  "(Jouerai 
Hontipaito  lias  lioon  very  abusive  U)  ine.  I  |iailetl  with  him 
rather  aUrnptly,  and  toKl  him,  Vous  ties  malhomtctt',  Moitsietir,^^ 
(you  are  impolito.  Sir.)  He  then  mounted  his  liorsc  and  gal- 
loped awav.  The  admiral  appeared  troultled  and  pensive.  It 
was  evidiiit  that  the  interview  had  Keen  very  unpleasant. 

lOM. —  Saw  Napoleon  in  his  dressing  room.  lie  was  in  very 
good  humor — asked  how  Ginirgaud  was,  and  on  lieing  informed 
that  I  had  given  him  some  remedy,  he  laughed  and  said,  he 
would  have  done  better  to  have  dieted  himself  for  some  days: 
let  h"  .  drink  plenty  of  water,  and  eat  n()thing.  Medicines,"  he 
SH        ''  were  only  fit  for  t)ld  people." 

He  then  said,  "  That  governor  cainc  here  yesterday  to  annoy 
nie.  He  saw  me  walking  in  the  garden,  and  in  consequence  I 
Could  not  refuse  to  see  him.  He  wanted  to  enter  into  some  de- 
tails with  me,  about  reducing  the  expenses  of  the  establishment. 
He  had  the  audacity  to  tell  me  that  things  were  as  he  found 
them,  and  that  he  came  up  to  justify  himself:  that  he  had  come 
up  two  or  three  times  before  to  do  so,  but  that  I  was  in  a  bath. 
I  replied,  '  No,  sir,  I  was  not  in  a  bath,  but  I  ordered  one  on  pur- 
pose not  to  see  you.  In  endeavoring  to  justify  yourself,  you 
make  matters  worse.'  He  said  that  I  did  not  know  him  ;  that 
if  I  knew  him,  I  should  change  my  opinion.  '  Know  you,  sir,'  I 
answered,  '  how  could  I  know  you  ?  People  make  themselves 
known  by  their  actions;  by  commanding  in  battles.  You  have 
never  commanded  in  battle.  You  have  never  commanded  any 
but  vagabond  Corsican  deserters,  Piedniontese  and  Neapolitan 
origands.  1  know  the  name  of  every  English  general  who  has 
iistinguished  himself,  Imt  I  never  heard  of  you  except  as  a 
scrivano*  toBlucher,  or  as  a  commandant  of  brigands.  You  have 
never  commanded,  or  been  accustomed  to  men  of  honor."  He 
said,  that  he  had  not  sought  for  the  employment.  I  told  him, 
that  such  employments  were  not  asked  for ;  that  they  were 
given  by  governments  to  people  who  had  dishonored  themselves. 
He  said,  that  he  only  did  his  duty,  and  that  I  ought  not  to  blame 
him,  as  he  only  acted    according   to   his   orders.     I  replied,  'so 

•  Clerk. 


1816 — AUGUST.  59 

does  the  hangman.  He  acts  according  to  his  orders.  But  when 
he  puts  a  rope  round  my  neck  to  finish  me,  is  that  a  reason  that 
I  should  like  that  hangman,  because  he  acts  according  to  his 
orders.  Besides,  I  do  not  believe  that  any  government  could  be 
so  mean  as  to  give  such  orders  as  you  cause  to  be  executed.'  I 
told  him,  that  if  he  pleased,  he  need  not  send  up  any  thing  to 
eat.  That  1  would  go  over  and  dine  at  the  table  of  the  brave 
officers  of  the  53d ;  that  I  was  sure  there  was  not  one  of  them 
who  would  not  be  happy  to  give  a  plate  at  the  table  to  an  old 
soldier.  That  there  was  not  a  soldier  in  the  regiment  who  had 
not  more  heart  than  he  had.  That  in  the  iniquitous  bill  of  par- 
liament, they  had  decreed  that  I  was  to  be  treated  as  a  prisoner, 
but  that  he  treated  me  worse  than  a  condemned  criminal,  or  a 
galley  slave,  as  those  were  permitted  to  receive  newspapers  and 
printed  books,  which  he  deprived  me  of.  I  said,  '  you  have 
power  over  my  body,  but  none  over  my  soul.  That  soul  is  as 
proud,  fierce,  and  determined  at  the  present  moment,  as  when  it 
commanded  Europe."  I  told  him  that  he  was  a  sbirro  Sicillano, 
and  not  an  Englishman ;  and  desired  him  not  to  let  me  see  him 
again  until  he  came  with  orders  to  dispatch  me,  when  he  would 
find  all  the  doors  thrown  open  to  admit  him. 

"  It  is  not  my  custom,"  continued  he,  "  to  abuse  any  person, 
but  that  man's  effrontery  produced  bad  blood  in  me,  and  I  could 
not  help  expressing  my  sentiments.  When  he  had  the  impu- 
dence to  tell  me  before  the  admiral  that  he  had  changed  nothing; 
that  all  was  the  same  as  when  he  arrived,  I  replied,  '  Call  the 
captain  of  ordonnance  here,  and  ask  Jiim.  I  will  leave  it  to  his 
decision.'     This  struck  him  dumb,  he  was  nmte." 

"  He  told  me,  that  he  had  found  his  situation  so  difficult,  that 
he  had  resigned.  I  replied,  that  a  worse  man  than  himself  could 
not  be  sent  out,  though  the  employment  was  not  one  which  a 
galantuomo  would  wish  to  accept.  If  you  have  an  opportunity," 
added  he,  "or  if  any  one  asks  you,  you  are  at  liberty  to  repeat 
what  I  have  told  you." 

Gave  him  Sarrazin's  "Account  of  the  Campaign  in  Spain." 
"  Sarrazin,"  said  he,  "was  a  traitor,  and  a  man  without  honor. 
truth,  or  probity.     When  I  returned  fi  om  Elba  to  Paris,  he  wrot« 


60  A   VOTCK    FROM    ST.    IIKLEXA 

an  offer  of  Irs  services  to  iiu",  in  which  In-  prdjiosi-d,  if  I  would 
forgive  and  tiuploy  him,  to  l)ctruy  to  me  all  the  secrets  ami 
plans  of  tlie  Eniilish.  It  was  my  intention  to  have  had  him  tried 
as  a  traitor,  as  he  deserved,  instead  of  accepting  his  offt'i-,  l»iit  I 
was  so  much  hurried  that  it  escaped  my  memory." 

2\st. — A  ship  arrived  from  p]ngland.  Went  to  town,  where  I 
saw  Captain  Stanfell,  to  whom  1  mentioned  in  the  course  of 
«onversation  that  a  very  unpleasant  conversation  had  taken  place 
hetween  the  governor  and  Napoleon,  and  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
had  told  the  latter  that  he  had  given  in  his  resignation.  On  my 
return,  called  at  Hut's  Gate,  along  with  Captain  Maunsell  of  the 
53d,  and  Captain  Po|)pleton.  Madame  Bertrand  asked  if  there 
were  any  letters.  Captain  Maunsell  said,  that  he  had  seen  some 
for  them,  at  the  post  office.  On  my  arrival  at  Longwood, 
Napoleon  asked  me  the  same  question,  to  which  I  replied,  that 
Captain  Maunsell  had  informed  Madame  Bertrand  there  were 
some  at  the  post  office.  It  was  not  my  intention  to  have  men- 
tioned them  until  I  had  ascertained  whether  they  would  be  sent 
to  Longwood,  as  I  did  not  wish  to  embroil  him  further  with  the 
governor;  but  as  I  was  assured  that  he  would  hear  it  from  Hut's 
Gate,  I  could  not  conceal  my  knowledge  of  the  tact. 

22nd. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  me  to  Plantation  House. 
Found  him  walking  in  the  path  to  the  left  of  the  house.  He  said 
that  he  had  some  communication  to  niake  to  government,  wished 
to  know  the  state  of  General  Bonaparte's  health,  and  whether  1 
had  any  thing  to  say.  "I  understand,"  continued  he,  "that 
Bonaparte  told  you  I  had  said  that  1  had  given  in  my  resignation 
as  governor  of  this  island,  is  it  true?"  1  replied,  "he  told  me 
that  you  had  said  so  to  him."  Sir  Hudson  added,  "I  never  said 
any  such  thing,  nor  ever  had  an  idea  of  it.  He  has  either  in- 
vented it,  or  perhaps  mistaken  my  expressions.  I  merely  said, 
that  if  the  gtivernment  did  not  approve  of  my  conduct,  I  would 
resign.  1  wish  you,  therefore,  to  explain  to  him  that  I  never 
either  said  so,  or  had  any  intention  of  doing  it."  He  then  asked 
me  if  I  had  heard  the  subject  of  their  conversatirm.  I  replied, 
"some  part  of  it."  He  wished  to  know  what  it  was.  I  replied, 
"  that  I  supposed  he  remembered  it,  and  that  I  iid  not  wish  to 


1816 — AlTGtJST.  (J1 

repeat  what  must  be  disagreeable  to  him."  He  observed  that  I 
had  mentioned  it  elsewhere,  and  that  he  had  a  right  to  hear  it 
from  my  own  lips.  Although  I  had  permission  to  communicate 
it,  I  was  not  pleased  to  be  obliged  to  repeat  to  a  man's  'ace 
opinions  such  as  those  which  had  been  expressed  of  him  ;  but 
under  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  I  did  not  think  proper  to 
refuse ;  I  therefore  repeated  some  parts.  Sir  Hudson  said,  that 
though  he  had  not  commanded  an  army  against  him,  yet  that  he 
had  probably  done  him  more  mischief,  by  the  advice  and  in- 
formation which  he  had  given,  prior  to  and  during  the  conferences 
at  Chatillon,  some  of  which  had  not  been  published,  as  the  con- 
ferences were  going  on  at  the  time — than  if  he  had  commanded 
against  him.  That  what  he  had  pointed  out,  had  been  acted  upon 
afterwards,  and  was  the  cause  of  his  downfall  from  the  throne. 
"I  should  like,"  added  he,  "to  let  hini  know  this,  in  order  to 
give  him  some  cause  for  his  hatred.  I  shall  probably  publish  an 
account  of  the  matter." 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  then  walked  about  for  a  short  time,  biting 
his  nails,  and  asked  me  if  Madame  Bertrand  had  repeated  to 
strangers  any  of  the  conversation  which  had  passed  between 
Genera'l  Bonaparte  and  himself?  I  replied,  that  I  was  not  aware 
that  Madame  Bertrand  was  yet  acquainted  with  it.  "  She  had 
better  not,"  said  he,  "  lest  it  may  render  her  and  her  husband's 
situation  much  more  unpleasant  than  at  present."  He  then  re- 
peated some  of  Napoleon's  expressions  in  a  very  angry  manner, 
and  said,  "did  General  Bonaparte  tell  you,  sir,  that  I  told  him 
his  language  was  impolite  and  indecent,  and  that  I  would  not 
listen  any  longer  to  it?"  I  said,  "no."  "  Then  it  showed,''  oh- 
served  the  governor,  "  great  littleness  on  the  part  of  General 
Bonaparte  not  to  tell  you  the  whole.  He  had  better  reflect  on 
his  situation,  for  it  is  in  my  power  to  render  him  much  more  un- 
comfortable than  he  is.  If  he  continues  his  abuse,  I  shall  make 
him  feel  his  situation.  He  is  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  I  have  a 
right  to  treat  him  according  to  his  conduct.  I'll  build  him  up." 
He  walked  about  for  a  few  minutes  repeating  again  some  of  the 
observations,  which  he  charactized  as  ungcntlemanlike,  <fec.  until 
hn  had   worked  himself  into   a  passion,  and   said,  "  tell  General 


(IS  A    VOICK    KKOM    sr.    HKLKN'A. 

Bonapnrtf  that  In-  hml  lu-llrr  take  care  wlial  lu'  does,  as,  if  he 
conlimu'S  his  jiirsont  roiidiut,  1  sliall  lio  t)liligid  to  tjikc  lueusurea 
to  iiuri'aso  the  rostriotioiis  alroaily  in  fuiro."  After  observing 
tliat  he  had  l>ei-ii  the  eause  of  tlie  loss  of  tin-  lives  of  iiiillions  of 
men,  and  might  l>e  again,  if  he  got  loose,  he  eoneluded  liy  saying, 
"  I  coii>ider  AH  Pacha  to  he  a  much  more  respccfahle  scoundrel 
than  Bonoporte.^'* 

2'Srd. — Told  Napoleon  in  the  course  of  conversation,  that  the 
governor  had  said  that  he  had  mistaken  his  expressions,  as  he  had 
never  saitl,  or  intended  to  say,  that  he  had  given  in  his  resigna- 
tion;  that  he  had  certainly  expressed,  that  if  the  government  did 
not  approve  of  his  conduct,  he  would  resign,  &ic.  "That  is  very 
extraordinary,"  said  Napoleon,  "  as  he  told  me  himself  that  he 
had  resigned,  at  least  I  understood  him  so.  Taiito  peggio."  (So 
much  the  worse.)  I  then  observed,  that  in  consequence  of  what 
had  occurred  at  the  last  interview,  it  was  probable  that  he  would 
not  seek  another.  "  Tan/o  ineglio"  (so  much  the  better,)  said 
the  emperor,  "  as  then  I  shall  be  freed  from  the  embarrassment 
del  suo  brutto  viso,  &c."  (of  his  vile  visage.) 

20///. — Napoleon  asked  me,  "  if  I  had  seen  the  letter  written 
by  C<Dunt  Montholon  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  containing  a  list  of 
their  grievances  ;"  I  replied  that  I  had.  "  Do  you  think,"  said 
he,  "  that  this  governor  will  send  it  to  England  ?"  I  assured 
him,  that  there  was  not  a  doubt  of  it.  ITiat  moreover,  the  go- 
vernor told  me,  that  he  had  offered  to  him  not  only  to  send  their 
letters  home,  but  even  to  get  them  published  in  the  newspapers. 
"  It  is  a  falsehood,"  replied  the  emperor.  "  He  said,  that  he 
would  send  letters  to  Europe,  and  have  them  published,  with 
this  proviso,  however,  that  he  approved  of  their  contents.  Be- 
sides, if  even  he  wished  to  do  so,  his  government  would  not  per- 
mit it.  Suppose  for  example,  that  1  sent  him  an  address  to  the 
French  nation  1 — I  do  not  think,"  continued  he,  "  that  they  will 
allow  a  letter,  which  covers  them  with  so  much  disgrace,  to  be 
published.  The  people  of  England  want  to  know  why  1  call 
myself  emperor,  after   having  abdicated — I  have  explained  it  in 

•  Mr.  Baxter  camo  up  and  joined  us  uboat  the  moment  tliat  the  expreBsioo 
WM  tued. 


1816 — AUGUST.  63 

that  letter.  It  was  my  intention  to  have  lived  in  England  as  a 
private  person  incognito,  but  as  they  have  sent  me  here,  and 
want  b)  make  it  appear  that  I  was  never  chief  magistrate  or  em 
peror  of  France,  I  still  retain  the  title  ;  *  *  *  told  me,  that  he 
heard  Lords  Liverpool  and  Castlereagh  say,  that  one  of  the  prni 
cipal  reasons  why  they  sent  me  here  was  a  dread  of  my  cabal 
ling  with  the  opposition.  It  is  likely  enough  that  they  were 
afraid  of  my  telling  the  truth  of  them,  and  of  my  explaining  some 
things  which  they  would  not  like,  as  they  knew  that  if  I  remained 
in  England,  they  must  permit  people  of  rank  to  see  me." 

He  afterwards  complained  of  the  unnecessary  severity  exer- 
cised in  depriving  him  of  a  series  of  newspapers  ;  and  restrict- 
ing him  to  some  unconnected  numbers  of  the  Bourbon  paper, 
"The  Times." 

Within  a  few  days  some  more  picquets  have  been  established, 
and  sevei'al  additional  sentinels  placed,  some  in  sight  of  Napo- 
leon, if  he  chose  to  walk  after  sunset.  Ditches  of  eight  or  ten 
feet  deep  nearly  completed  round  the  garden. 

'21th. — Napoleon  asked  me  if  the  French  commissioner  and 
Madame  Sturmer  had  not  had  a  quarrel?  I  replied,  that  Mont- 
chenu  had  said  that  Madame  Sturmer  did  not  know  how  to  come 
into  a  drawing-room.  He  laughed  at  this,  and  said,  "  I  will  ven- 
ture to  say  that  the  old  booby  says  so  because  she  is  not  sprung 
from  some  of  those  imbeciles,  the  old  noblesse.  Because  her 
father  is  a  plebeian.  These  old  emigrants  hate,  and  are  jealous 
of  all  who  are  not  hereditary  asses  like  themselves."  1  asked 
him  if  the  king  of  Prussia  was  a  man  of  talent.  "  Who,"  said 
h<=',  "  the  king  of  Prussia  ?"  He  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 
'  He  a  man  of  talent !  The  greatest  blockhead  on  earth.  Un 
if/norantaccio  die  nou  lia  ne  talento,  lie  informaziDiie,  (A  block- 
nead,  who  has  neither  talents  nor  information.)  A  Don  Quixote 
in  appearance.  1  know  him  well.  He  cannot  hold  a  conversa- 
tion for  five  minutes.  Not  so  his  wife.  She  was  a  very  clever, 
fine  woman,  but  very  unfortunate.  Era  be/la,  (jraziosa,  e  piena 
Wintelliffenza."  (She  was  beautiful,  full  of  grace  and  intelligence  ) 
He  then  conversed  for  a  considerable  time  about  the  Bourbons. 
"They  want,"  said  he,  "  to  introduce  the  old  system  of  nobility 


M  A    VOICK    FUOM    ST.    HKI-KNA. 

iuto  the  nrniy.  Instoad  of  jillo\vIii<i  tlu>  sons  of  poasiuits  and 
Iftborors  to  bo  t-ligible  to  In*  inailo  goiirrnis,  as  tlicy  were  in  my 
tiiuo,  they  want  to  confine  it  entirely  to  the  old  nobility,  to 
emiijres  like  that  old  bjorkhead  Montchenu.  Wluii  ynii  have 
seen  Montchenu,  you  have  seen  all  the  old  nobility  of  France 
licfore  the  revolution.  Such  were  all  the  race,  and  such  tlu-y  have 
returned,  iirnorant,  vain,  and  arrojiant  as  they  left  it  I/s  rCont 
cien  apjiris,  iis  nout  ricn  nublie.  ('J'hey  have  learned  nothing,  they 
have  forgotten  nothing.)  They  were  the  cause  of  the  revolution, 
and  of  so  much  bloodshed  ;  and  now,  after  twenty-five  years  of 
exile  and  disgrace,  they  return  loacled  with  the  same  vices  and 
crimes  for  which  they  were  expatriated,  to  produce  another  revo- 
lution, I  know  the  French.  Believe  me,  that  after  six  or  ten 
years  the  whole  race  will  be  massacred,  and  thrown  into  the 
Seine.  They  are  a  curse  to  the  nation.  It  is  of  such  as  them 
that  the  Bourbons  want  to  make  generals.  1  made  most  of  mine 
de  la  boue  (of  clay.)  Wherever  I  found  talent  and  courage,  I 
rewarded  it.  ^ly  principle  was,  la  carriere  onvert  oux  tolens  (the 
career  open  to  talents),  without  asking  whether  there  were  any 
quarters  of  nobility  to  show.  It  is  true,  that  I  sometimes  pro- 
moted a  few  of  the  old  nobility,  from  a  principle  of  policy  and 
justice,  but  I  never  reposed  great  confidence  in  them.  The  mass 
of  the  people,"  continued  he,  "now  see  the  revival  of  the  feudal 
times;  they  see  that  soon  it  will  be  impossible  for  their  progeny 
to  rise  in  the  array.  Every  true  Frenchman  reflects  with  an- 
guish, that  a  family  for  so  many  years  odious  to  France,  has 
bofn  forced  upon  them  over  a  bridge  f)f  foreign  bayonets.  What 
I  am  going  to  recount  will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  imbecility 
of  the  family.  When  the  Count  d'Artois  came  to  Lyons, 
although  he  threw  himself  on  his  knees  before  the  troops  in 
order  to  induce  them  to  advance  against  me,  he  never  put  on  the 
cordon  of  the  legion  of  honor,  though  he  knew  that  the  sight  of 
it  would  be  most  likely  to  excite  the  minds  of  the  soldiers  in  his 
favor,  as  it  was  the  order  so  many  of  them  bore  on  their  breasts, 
and  required  nothing  but  bravery  to  obtain  it.  But  no,  he  decked 
himself  out  with  the  order  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  eligible  for 
which  you  must  prove  one  hundred   and  fifty  years  of  nobility, 


1816 — AUGUST.  65 

ST.  order  formed  purposely  to  exclude  merit,  and  one  which  ex- 
cited indignation  in  the  breasts  of  old  soldiers.  '  We  will  not,' 
said  they,  'fight  for  orders  like  that,  nor  for  emigres  like  those  j' 
he  had  len  or  eleven  of  these  imbeciles  as  aid-de  camps.  Inslead 
of  showing  to  the  troops  some  of  those  generals  who  had  so 
often  led  them  to  glory,  he  brought  with  him  a  set  of  misera- 
hleSy  who  served  no  other  purpose  than  to  recall  to  the  njinds  oi 
the  veterans  their  former  sufferings  under  the  noblesse  and  tht 
priests. 

"To  give  you  an  instance  of  the  general  feeling  in  France  to- 
wards the  Bourbons,  I  will  relate  to  you  an  anecdote.  On  my 
return  from  Italy,  while  my  carriage  was  ascending  the  steep 
hill  of  Tarare,  I  got  out  and  walked  up,  without  any  attendants, 
as  was  often  my  custom.  My  wife  and  my  suite  were  at  a  little 
distance  behind  me.  I  saw  an  old  woman,  lame,  and  hobbling 
about  with  the  help  of  a  crutch,  endeavoring  to  ascend  the 
mountain.  I  had  a  great  coat  on,  and  was  not  recognized.  1 
went  up  to  her  and  said.  Well,  ma  bonne^  (good  woman,)  where 
are  you  going  with  a  haste  which  so  little  belongs  to  your  years'? 
What  is  the  matter  1  '  Ma/oi,^  (my  faith,)  replied  the  old  dame, 
'  they  tell  me  the  emperor  is  here,  and  I  want  to  see  him  before 
I  die.'  Bah,  bah,  said  I,  what  do  you  want  to  see  him  for  ? 
What  have  you  gained  by  him  1  He  is  a  tyrant  as  well  as  the 
others.  You  have  only  changed  one  tyrant  for  another,  Louis 
for  Napoleon.  '■Mais,  monsieur,  [hut,  Sir,)  that  may  be;  but 
after  all,  he  is  the  king  of  the  people,  and  the  Bourbons  were  the 
kings  of  the  nobles.  We  have  chosen  1dm,  and  if  we  are  to 
have  a  tyrant,  let  him  be  one  chosen  by  ourselves.'  There," 
said  he,  "you  have  the  sentiments  of  the  French  nation  ex- 
pressed by  an  old  woman." 

I  asked  bis  opinion  about  Soult,  and  mentioned  that  1  had 
heard  some  persons  place  him  in  the  rank  next  to  himself  as  a 
general.  He  replied,  "He  is  an  excellent  minister  at  war,  or 
major-general  of  an  army  :  one  who  knows  much  better  the  ar- 
rangement of  an  army,  than  to  command  in  chief." 

Some  officers  of  the  53d  told  Madame  Bertrand  that  Sir 
Thomas  Reade  had  said,  that  Bonaparte  did  not  like  the  sight  of 


66  A    VOICK    KKoM    Sr.    HKI,ENA. 

tlu'iii,  <»r  of  any  otlior  red  coat,  as  it  put  liiiii  in  tiiiiid  of  Watv: 
loo.  Mndaino  Ri'itranii  as-^rnvd  ihi'iii,  that  it  was  directly  con 
trarv  to  cvcrythiiijj  that  he  had  ever  expressed  in  her  hearing. 
The  sail  e  was  nientiiMied  to  nie,  yesterday,  liy  Lieutenants  Fit? 
jjeraKl  and  Mael\ay. 

28///. — Infiiriiu'd  that  tht-  faindus  K'ttrr  was  shown  to  several 
ofticers  (if  the  arniN  and  ihi"  navy,  and  prolialdy  some  copies 
sent  to  Enghmd. 

A  letter  given  by  Count  Montholon  this  evening,  to  Captain 
Poppleton,  for  the  governor,  expressing  a  wish,  that,  if  the  gov- 
ernor did  not  think  proper  to  put  matters  with  respect  to  passes 
on  the  same  footing  as  they  were  in  Sir  George  Cockl>urn's  time, 
which  had  been  approved  of  by  his  government,  he  should  nc 
longer  grant  passes  to  any  person. 

SOth. — Napoleon  rose  at  three  A.  M,  Continued  writing  until 
six  ;  when  he  retired  to  rest  again.  At  five  o'clock  Count  Bcr- 
trand  came  to  Captain  Poppleton,  and  told  him  that  the  emperor 
desired  to  see  him.  Poppleton,  being  in  his  morning  walking- 
dress,  wished  to  retire  and  change,  but  was  desired  to  come  sans 
ccremonie,  (without  ceremony.)*  He  was  accordingly  ushered 
into  the  billiard-room  in  his  dishabille.  Napoleon  was  standing 
with  his  hat  under  his  arm.  "  Well,  M.  le  capitaine"  (captain,) 
said  he,  "  I  believe  you  are  the  senior  captain  of  the  53d  ?"  "  1 
am."  "  I  have  an  esteem  for  the  officers  and  men  of  the  53d. 
They  are  brave  men,  and  do  their  duty.  I  have  been  informed, 
that  it  is  said  in  camp,  that  I  do  not  wish  to  see  the  officers. 
Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  tell  them,  that  whoever  asserted  this 
told  a  falsehood.  I  never  said  or  thought  so.  I  shall  be  always 
happy  to  sec  them.  I  have  been  told,  also,  that  they  have  been 
prohibited  liy  the  governor  from  visiting  me."  Captain  Popple- 
ton replied,  that  he  believed  the  information  which  he  had  re- 
ceived was  groundless,  and  that  the  officers  of  the  53d  were 
acquainted  with  the  good  opinion  which  he  had  previously  ex- 
pressed cf  them,  which  was  highly  flattering  to  their  feelir.gs. 
That  they  had  the  greatest  respect  for  him.  Napoleon  smiled, 
and  replied,  "c7e  )ie  suis  pas  vielllc  femnie^  (I  am  nf>t  an  old  wo- 
man.)    I  love  a  brave  soldier  who  has  undergone  le  hapteme  dv 


1816 — SEPTEMBER,  67 

fm,  (the  baptism  of  fire,)  whatever  nation  he  may  belong  to." 

31s^. — Sir  George;  Bingham  and  Major  Fehrzen  of  the  53d  had 
a  long  conversation  with  Napoleon. 

September  \st. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  to  Longwood.  Two 
or  three  days  ago,  the  "  letter "  had  been  shown  and  read  by 
Count  Las  Cases,  to  Captain  Grey  of  the  artillery,  and  some 
other  officers.  Sir  Hudson  was  very  desirous  to  know  whether 
any  of  them  had  taken  a  copy  of  it.  I  informed  him,  that  any 
person  at  Longwood  who  liked  might  get  one.  His  excellency 
appeared  greatly  alarmed  at  this,  and  observed,  that  it  was  an 
infraction  of  the  act  of  parliament  in  any  person,  not  belonging 
to  Longwood,  to  receive  it.  He  then  asked,  if  I  had  communi- 
cated to  General  Bonaparte,  what  he  had  directed  me  to  say  on 
the  22d  instant  I  replied,  that  I  had  ;  that  Napoleon  had  replied, 
"  that  he  might  act  as  he  pleased,  that  the  only  thing  left  undone 
now,  was  to  put  sentinels  at  the  doors  and  windows  to  prevent 
him  from  going  out ;  that  as  long  as  he  had  a  l)Ook,  he  cared  but 
little  about  it,"'  The  governor  remarked,  that  he  had  sent  his 
letter  of  complaints  to  the  British  government,  and  that  it  rested 
with  the  ministers  how  to  act.  That  he  had  put  them  in  full 
possession  of  every  thing,  which  he  desired  me  to  tell  him.  He 
added,  that  it  was  true  he  could  not  be  much  worse  than  he  was. 

Ath. — Told  Napoleon  that  the  governor  had  directed  me  to 
say  that  Count  Montholon's  letter  had  been  sent  to  his  majesty's 
government,  and  that  it  rested  with  the  ministers  how  to  act. 
That  he  had  put  them  in  full  possession  of  every  thing.  "  Per- 
haps," replied  he,  "  it  will  be  published  in  the  English  newspa- 
pers before  his  copy  arrives." 

5/A.  —  Major  Gorrequer  came  up  to  Longwood,  in  order  to  ar- 
range matters  with  General  Montholon,  relative  to  the  proposed 
reduction  of  the  expenditure,  at  which  he  begged  me  to  be  pre- 
sent. The  purport  of  his  communication  was,  that  when  the 
British  government  had  fixed  8,000^.  as  the  maximum  of  the 
whole  of  the  expense  attendant  upon  General  Bonaparte's  estab- 
lishment, they  had  contemplated  that  a  great  reduction  would 
take  place  in  the  number  of  persons  composing  it,  by  some  of 
the  general  officeis  and  others  returning  to  Europe.     But  as  that 


M  A    V(»U'K    KKi'M    SI.    IlKLKNA. 

hiui  iiol  takfii  jt|;ii'i',  tln'  i^oMiiinr  li;ul,  on  his  own  ii'S|ioiisiliility 
dinvtoil  tliiil  ail  additional  sum  of  1,000/,  should  !>»•  aildi'd 
■unking  in  thi"  vshoK-  12,000/.  fur  all  and  even  t-xpi-iisf ;  that 
General  Montlu)lon  must  thoreforo  be  infurined,  that  on  no  ac- 
count oowld  till'  expenditure  be  allowed  to  exceetl  1,000/.  per 
month.  Should  General  Honaparte  be  averse  to  the  reduction 
Kvessary  to  Itring  the  disburseini'uts  within  that  sum,  the  sur- 
plus Miust  be  paid  by  himself,  by  bills  drawn  u[)on  some  banker 
in  Eur«)pc,  or  by  such  of  his  friends  as  were  willin<;  to  pay  them. 
C'«>unt  Montholon  replied,  that  the  emperor  was  willing  to  pay 
jUI  the  expenses  of  the  establishment,  if  they  would  allow  him 
the  means  of  doing  so;  and  that  if  they  permitted  a  mercantile 
or  banking-house  in  St.  Helena,  London,  or  Paris,  chosen  by  the 
British  government  itself,  to  serve  as  intermediators,  through 
whom  they  could  send  sealed  letters  and  receive  answers,  he 
would  engage  to  pay  all  the  expenses.  That  on  the  one  side, 
his  honor  should  be  pledged  that  the  letters  should  relate  solely 
to  pecuniary  matters;  and  on  the  other,  that  the  correspondence 
should  be  held  sacred.  Major  Gorrequer  replied,  that  this  could 
not  be  complied  with;  that  no  sealed  letters  would  be  suffered  to 
leave  Longwood. 

Major  Gorrequer  shortly  afterwards  told  Count  Montholon, 
that  the  intended  reductions  would  take  place  on  the  15th  of  the 
present  month,  and  begged  of  him  to  arrange  matters  with  Mr. 
Balcombe,  the  purveyor,  about  the  disposition  of  the  1,000/. 
monthly,  unless  he  chose  to  give  drafts  for  the  surplus. — Count 
Montholon  replied,  that  he  would  not  meddle  with  it;  that  the 
governor  might  act  as  he  pleased ;  that  at  the  present  moment 
there  was  not  any  superfluity  of  provisions  supplied ;  that  as 
soon  as  the  reductions  took  place,  he,  for  his  part,  would  give  up 
all  charge,  and  would  not  meddle  further  in  the  matter.  That 
the  conduct  of  the  English  ministry  was  infamous,  in  declaring 
to  Europe  that  the  emperor  should  not  be  suffered  to  want  for 
any  thing,  and  refusing  the  offers  of  the  allied  powers  to  defray 
a  part  of  the  expenses,  and  now  reducing  him  and  his  suite  nearly 
to  rations.  Major  Gorrequer  denied  that  the  allied  powers  had 
ever  made  such  an  offer.     Montholon  replied,  that  he  had  read 


1816 — SEPTEMBER.  69 

it  in  some  of  the  papers.  Major  Gorrec^uer  then  observcQ,  that 
a  gread  reduction  could  be  made  hi  the  wine,  viz.  that  it  could  be 
reduced  to  ten  bottles  of  claret  daily,  and  one  of  madeira;  that 
at  Plantation  House,  the  consumption  was  regulated  on  the 
average  of  one  bottle  to  each  person.  Montholon  replied,  that 
the  French  drank  much  less  than  the  English ;  and  that  he  hao 
already  done  at  the  emperor's  table,  what  he  never  had  done  in 
his  own  private  house  in  France,  viz.  corked  up  the  remnants  of 
the  bottles  of  wine,  in  order  to  produce  them  on  the  table  the 
next  day  ;  that,  moreover,  at  night  there  was  not  a  morsel  of 
meat  remaining  in  the  pantry.  Gorrequer  observed,  that  12,000/. 
a  year  was  a  very  handsome  allowance.  "  About  as  much  as 
4,000/.  in  England,"  replied  Montholon.  This  business  was  then 
deferred  until  Saturday.  Before  leaving  Longwood,  Major  Gor- 
requer himself  allowed  to  me  that  the  establishment  could  not 
be  carried  on  for  12,000/.  annually ;  but  that  he  thought  a 
reduction  of  about  2,000/.  yearly  might  be  made.  I  observed 
that  it  might,  provided  that  a  store  of  every  thing  necessary  was 
established  at  Longwood,  together  with  a  stock-yard,  under  the 
direction  of  a  proper  person, 

1th. — Major  Gorrequer  came  up,  and  had  a  long  conversation 
with  Count  Montholon,  in  my  presence.  The  latter  told  him, 
that  orders  had  been  given  to  discharge  seven  servants,  which, 
with  the  consequent  saving  of  provisions,  and  a  reduction  of 
wine,  would  diminish  the  expenses  of  the  establishment  to  about 
15,104/.  annually  ;  but  that  sum  was  the  minirmim  of  ininimums, 
and  that  no  further  reductions  could  possibly  take  place.  Maj'>i 
Gorrequer  observed,  that  it  was  nearly  what  he  had  calculated 
himself.  However,  he  still  persisted  in  declaring  that  on  the 
15th,  not  more  than  1,000/.  per  month  would  be  allowed.  Count 
Montholon,  then,  after  renewing  the  offer  made  on  the  last  con- 
versation, said,  that  as  the  emperor  was  not  permitted  by  the 
British  government  to  have  access  to  his  property,  he  had  no 
other  means  left  than  to  dispose  of  his  property  ;  and  that,  ac- 
cordingly, a  portion  of  his  plate  would  be  sent  to  the  town  for 
sale  in  order  to  obtain  the  sum  required  monthly,  in  addition  to 
that  allowed  by  Sir  Hudson   Lowe,  to  provide  them  with  the 


70  A    Yi'ICK    Ki:oM    .<T.    JlKIiENA. 

necessnrlis  of  life.  Major  Gorivquer  said,  that  lie  wmild  at  (jimint 
tlio  uovtTiior  with  it- 
Sir  lliiilstm  Lowo,  acc«>m|iaiiit'd  by  nt'iiiTal  Mcado  (wlio  liad 
arrived  a  day  or  two  l)eforo),  cnme  up  and  iiuK-  nmnd  Loii}^- 
wood.  Ho  appeared  to  point  out  to  the  general  tlic  liinits,  and 
t'thor  matters  oouneeted  with  the  prisoners. 

At  night  Napoleon  sent  for  me,  and  complained  of  severe 
headache.  lie  was  sitting  in  his  bedroom,  with  only  a  wood  fire 
I'urning,  the  flames  of  whii-h,  alternately  blazing  and  sinking 
gave  at  moments  a  most  singular  and  melancholy  expression  tc 
his  Countenance,  as  he  sat  opjjosite  to  it  with  his  hands  crossed 
upon  his  knees,  probably  reflecting  upon  his  forlorn  condition. 
After  a  moment's  pause,  "  Z>c»/A>re,"  said  he,  '■'■  potete  dar  qual- 
cosa  a  Jar  dnnnire  vn  tiomo  che  non  puote?  (Doctor,  said  he, 
can  you  make  a  man  sleep  who  is  not  inclined  ?)  This  is  beyond 
your  art.  I  have  been  tryii^g  in  vain  to  procure  a  little  rest.  I 
cannot,"  continued  he,  "  well  comprehend  the  conduct  of  your 
ministers.  They  go  to  the  expense  of  00  or  70,000^.  in  sending 
out  furniture,  wood,  and  building  materials  for  my  use,  and  at 
the  same  time  send  orders  to  put  me  nearly  on  rations,  and 
oblige  me  to  discharge  my  servants,  and  to  make  reductions 
incompatible  with  the  decency  and  the  comfort  of  the  house. 
Then  we  have  aid-de-camps  making  stipulations  about  a  bottle 
of  wine  and  two  or  three  pounds  of  meat,  with  as  much  gravity 
and  consequence  as  if  they  were  treating  about  the  distribution 
of  kingdoms.  I  see  contradictions  that  I  cannot  reconcile :  on 
the  one  hand,  enormous  and  useless  expenditure;  on  the  other, 
unparalleled  meanness  and  littleness.  Why  do  not  they  allow 
me  to  provide  myself  with  everything,  instead  of  disgracing  the 
character  of  the  nation.  They  will  not  furnish  my  followers 
with  what  they  have  been  accustomed  to,  nor  will  they  allow  me 
to  provide  for  them,  by  sending  sealed  letters  through  a  mercan- 
tile house  even  of  their  own  selection.  For  no  man  in  France 
would  answer  a  letter  of  mine,  when  he  knew  that  it  would  be 
read  by  the  English  ministers,  and  that  he  would  consequently 
be  denounced  to  the  Bciurbons,  and  his  property  and  person 
exposed  to  certain  destruction.     Moreover,  your  own  ministera 


1816 — SEPTEMBER.  71 

h^ve  not  given  a  specimen  of  good  faith  in  seizing  upon  the 
trifling  sum  of  money  that  I  had  in  the  Bellerophon  ;  which  gives 
reason  to  suppose  that  they  would  do  the  same  again,  if  they 
knew  where  any  of  my  property  was  placed.  It  must  be,"  con 
tinued  he,  "  to  gull  the  English  nation.  John  Bull,  seeing  all 
this  furniture  sent  out,  and  so  much  parade  and  show  in  the  pre 
parations  made  in  England,  concludes  that  I  am  well  treated 
here.  If  they  knew  the  truth,  and  the  dishonor  which  it  reflects 
upon  them,  they  would  not  suffer  it."  He  then  asked  who  was 
"  that  strange  general  officer  V  I  replied,  General  Meade,  who, 
with  Mrs.  Meade,  had  arrived  a  few  days  back.  That  I  had  been 
under  his  command  in  Egypt,  where  he  had  been  severely 
wounded.  "What,  with  Abercrombie?"  "No,"  I  replied, 
"during  the  unfortunate  attack  upon  Rosetta."  "What  sort  of 
a  man  is  he?"  I  replied,  that  he  bore  a  very  excellent  charac- 
ter. "  That  governor,"  said  he,  "  was  seen  stopping  him  fre- 
quently, and  pointing  in  different  directions.  I  suppose  that  he 
had  been  filling  his  head  with  bugie  (lies)  about  me,  and  has  told 
him  that  I  hate  the  sight  of  every  Englishman,  as  some  of  his 
canaille  have  said  to  the  officers  of  the  53d.  I  shall  order  a  letter 
to  be  written  to  tell  him  that  I  will  see  him." 

8th. — A  letter  written  by  Count  Montholon  to  General  Meade, 
containing  an  invitation  to  come  to  Longwood,  and  stating  that 
the  emperor  would  be  glad  to  see  him.  This  was  given  to  Cap- 
*;ain  Poppleton,  who  was  also  requested  to  inform  Mrs.  Meade 
that  Napoleon  could  scarcely  request  a  lady  to  visit  him,  but 
that  if  she  came  he  should  be  happy  to  sec  her  likewise.  Cap- 
tain Pop])leton  delivered  this  letter  open  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 
His  excellency  handed  the  note  to  General  Meade.  On  the  road 
down  to  Jauics  Town,  General  Meade  reined  back  his  horse,  and 
spoke  to  Captain  Poppleton  nearly  as  follows:  That  he  should 
have  been  very  happy  to  have  availed  himself  of  the  invitation, 
but  that  he  understood  restrictions  existed,  and  that  he  must 
apply  to  the  governor  for  permission  ;  and  in  the  next  place,  the 
vessel  was  under  weigh,  and  he  could  not  well  detain  her.  This 
he  begged  of  him  to  ('(nivey  to  Longwood.  A  written  apology 
■was  afterwards  sent  by  him  to  the  Count,  expressing  his  thanks 


(2  A    VOICK    FKitM    SI'.    IIKI.KNA. 

for  tho  lioiiDT  doiio  to  him.  and   excusing  hiinsi-lf  mi  the  <Trtiiinfl 
of  tho  vessel's  being  uiulor  weigh. 

J)/A. — Nnpoloiui  eom[)hiinetl  of  hoatJaehe,  colic,  &c. — I  wished 
him  to  take  a  di'se  of  physic,  which  he  declined,  saying,  that  ho 
would  cure  himself  \>\  diet  and  chicken  water.  He  said,  that 
Gi-neral  Meade  had  writteii  an  apology  to  Count  Monthohm,  ex- 
pressinii  his  inahility  to  accept  of  the  invitation;  hut  "I  am 
convim-ed,"  continued  he,  "'  that  in  reality  he  was  prevented  hy 
tho  governor.  Tell  hin\  the  fwst  time  you  see  him,  that  I  said 
ho  prevented  (Toneral  Meade  from  coming  to  see  me." 

General  Gourgaud  and  Montholon  complained  of  the  wine, 
which  they  suspected  contained  lead,  as  it  gave  them  the  colic, 
and  desired  me  to  get  some  tests  in  order  to  analyze  it. 

\\)ung  Las  Cases  and  Piontkowski  went  to  town  this  day,  and 
had  a  conversation  with  the  Russian  and  Fi'ench  Commissioners. 
On  their  return  Piontkowski  said,  that  on  their  arrival  Sir 
Thomas  Reade  had  sent  orders  to  the  lieutenant  who  accompanied 
them,  not  to  allow  them  to  separate;  and  that  he  must  folhnv 
them  everywhere,  and  listen  to  their  conversation.  While  they 
were  speaking  to  the  Rose-bud,  (a  very  pretty  young  lady,  so 
denominated  from  the  freshness  and  fineness  of  her  complexion,) 
one  of  Sir  Thomas  Reade's  orderlies  brought  out  their  horses  by 
his  orders,  with  directions  to  inform  them  that  their  servant  was 
drunk,  and  that  if  they  did  not  leave  the  town  directly,  he,  (Sir 
Thomas.)  would  confine  him,  as  he  was  a  soldier,  and  punish  him 
for  being  drunk.  That  young  Las  Cases,  who  was  cooler  than 
him,  had  desired  him  to  demand  an  order  in  writing  to  that 
effect ;  but  that  in  his  passion  he  could  not  help  saying  that  he 
would  horsewhip  any  person  who  attempted  to  lead  the  horses 
away. 

lO^A. — Napoleon,  after  some  conversation  touching  tho  state 
of  his  health,  said  that,  "while  young  Las  Cases  was  speaking 
to  the  Russian  Commissioner  yesterday,  the  governor  was 
walking  up  and  down  before  the  house  where  they  were,  watching 
them.  I  could  not  have  believed  it  possible  before,  that  a  lieu- 
tenant-general and  a  governor,  could  have  demeaned  himself  by 
acting  as  a  gendarine.     Tell  him  so  the  next  time  you  see  him." 


1816 — SEPTEMBER.  78 

NaDoleon  then  made  some  observations  upon  the  bad  quality 
of  the  wine  furnished  to  Longwood,  and  remarked  that  when  he 
was  a  sous  lieutenant  of  artillery,  he  had  a  better  table,  and 
drank  better  wine  than  at  present. 

I  saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  afterwards,  who  asked  me  if  General 
Bonaparte  had  made  any  observations  relative  to  General 
Meade's  not  having  accepted  the  offer  made  to  him?  I  replied, 
that  he  had  said  he  was  convinced  that  he,  (Sir  Hudson,)  had 
prevented  him  from  accepting  of  it,  and  had  desired  me  to  tell 
him  that  such  was  his  opinion.  No  sooner  had  I  pronounced 
this  than  his  excellency's  countenance  changed,  and  he  exclaimed 

in    a    violent  tone  of  voice,  "  he  is  a  d d   lying   rascal,   a 

d d  black-hearted  villain.     I  wished  General  Meade  to  accept 

it,  and  told  him  to  do  so."  He  then  walked  about  for  a  few 
minutes  in  an  agitated  manner,  repeating,  "  that  none  but  a 
black-hearted  villain  would  have  entertained  such  an  idea  ;"  then 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  away.  He  had  not  proceeded  more 
than  about  a  hundred  paces,  when  he  wheeled  round,  rode  back 
to  where  I  was  standing,  and  said  in  a  very  angry  manner,  "  Tell 
General  Bonaparte  that  the  assertion  that  I  pi-evented  General 
Meade  from  going  to  see  him,  e  «««  bugia  infame,  e  che  e  un 
bvffiardone  cite  V  ha  detto*     Tell  him  my  exact  words." 

Sir  Thomas  Reade  informed  me  that  Piontkowski's  account 
of  the  transaction  in  town  was  false ;  that  the  only  orders  he  had 
given  to  Lieutenant  Sweeny,  were  not  to  lose  sight  of  them. 
That  seeing  their  servant  was  so  drunk,  that  he  could  not  sit  on 
horseback,  he  had  sent  his  own  orderly  to  assist  in  bringing  the 
horses  out,  merely  as  an  act  of  civility. 

\2th.  —  Napoleon  still  unwell;  complained  of  slight  colic. 
Recommended  him  strongly  to  take  a  dose  of  Epsom  salts.  In 
a  good-humored  manner  he  gave  me  a  slap  in  the  face,  and  said, 
if  he  was  not  better  to-morrow,  he  would  take  his  own  medicine, 
crystals  of  tartar.     During  the  conversation,  I  informed  him  that 

*  The  words  were  delivered  in  Italian,  and  signify  in  Englisli,  '■^  is  an  in- 
famous lie,  and  the  person  tvho  said  it,  is  a  great  liar.'''' — It  is  almost  unnecessary 
lor  me  to  say,  that  I  did  not  deliver  this  message  in  the  manner  I  was  directed 
to  convey  it. 

4 


74  A    VOiri.;    KUOM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

the  gi»vi»rii<>r  hail  a^suii'il  n\v  tlial  In-  liail  iml  only  imi  |iic\ cnti^d 
(iflUTul  Mi'Uik'  iVuiu  soring  him,  Iml  that  In-  liail  ri'ioniiiieudcd 
him  to  acri'pt  of  tin-  invitation.  "1  do  not  l)i-lic'\i' liiin,"  said 
Napoleon,  "or  if  hi'  did,  it  was  doiu'  in  sm  h  a  nnuniT  as  to  let 
the  other  know  that  hi-  woiiM  lathi-r  w  i>h  lu'  ilid  imt  avail  him- 
self of  it." 

I  ri'lati'd  arteiwards  to  him  the  explanation  yiven  to  mo  by 
Sir  Thi>mas  lieade,  of  Piontkowski's  alVair.  "What  1  conijjluin 
of,"  said  he,  "is  the  disingenuous  maniur  in  wliirh  tiny  act,  in 
order  to  prevent  any  of  tlie  Freneh  from  going  to  the  town. 
Why  do  they  ntit  say  at  once  manfully,  '  You  cannot  go  to  town?' 
and  then  nohody  will  ask,  instead  of  converting  officers  into 
spies  and  ffc/iilarmes,  by  making  them  follow  the  French  every- 
where, and  listen  to  their  conversation.  But  their  design  is  to 
throw  so  many  impediments  in  the  way,  and  render  it  so  dis- 
agreeable to  us,  as  to  amount  to  a  prohibition,  without  giving 
any  direct  orders,  in  order  to  enable  this  governor  to  say  that 
wt'  have  the  liberty  of  the  town,  but  that  we  do  not  choose  to 
avail  ourselves  of  it." 

I  saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  in  town,  to  wlioni  1  explained  what  1 
had  said  to  Napoleon  at)out  I'iontkuwski,  liis  reply,  also  the 
complaint  made  by  Generals  Gourgaud  and  Montholon  of  the 
wine,  and  his  request  that  1  might  procure  some  tests  to  analyze 
it.  A  few  bottles  of  claret  have  been  borrowed  from  Captain 
Poppleton  for  Napoleon's  own  use. 

\Stfi. — Napoleon  much  better.  Had  a  conversation  with  Mr. 
Balconil)e  relative  to  the  concerns  t)f  the  establishment. 

A  large  quantity  of  plate  weighed  for  tlie  jtiupose  of  being 
broken  up  for  sale.  Information  given  of  this  by  Captain  Pop- 
pleton to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe.  Complaints  made  by  Count 
Montholon  and  T'ipiiani  of  the  state  of  the  copper  saucepans  at 
Longwood.  Found  them,  on  examination,  to  be  in  want  of  ina- 
mediate  tim.ing.  CiJinmunicated  the  above  to  Major  Gorrequer, 
with  a  request  tliat  a  tradesman  might  be  sent  fortliwith  lu  repair 
them.  A  letter  came  from  Mr.  Balcombe  to  Cc^inl  Montholon, 
aontaining  the  scale  (jf  provisions,*  &c.,  whidi  had  been  fixed  fol 

•  See  Appendix,  No.  V. 


1816— SEPTEMBER.  75 

their  daily  use,  according  to  the  reduction  ordered  by  the  gov- 
ernor.    Montholon  refused  to  sign  any  more  receipts. 

In  the  evening,  Cipriani  went  to  Captain  Maunsell,  and  re- 
quested of  him  to  obtain  for  him  a  dozen  or  two  of  the  same 
claret  which  for  two  or  three  days  they  had  borrowed  from 
Captain  Poppleton  for  the  emperor,  and  which  had  been  got  from 
the  53d's  mess,  as  that  sent  up  from  James  Town  had  given  him 
the  colic,  adding  that  they  would  either  pay  for  it,  or  return  an 
equal  quantity.  This  request  was  interpreted  by  me  to  Captain 
Maunsell,  who  said  that  he  would  endeavor  to  procure  it. 

Received  an  answer  from  Major  Gorrequer,  acquainting  me 
that  he  had  ordered  a  new  hatterie  de  cuisine  (kitchen  apparatus) 
to  be  sent  to  Longwood,  &c.,  &c. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  and  statf  in  camp;  he  was  very  angry  at 
the  request  which  had  been  made  to  Captain  Maunsell  to  pro- 
cure the  wine.  It  appeared  that  Captain  Maunsell  had  mentioned 
it  to  his  brother,  and  to  the  wine  committee  of  the  regiment,  who 
proposed  to  send  a  case  of  claret  to  Napoleon.  This  was  told  to 
Sir  George  Bingham,  and  reported  by  him  to  the  governor,  who 
sent  for  me,  and  said  that  I  had  no  business  to  act  as  interpreter 
on  such  an  occasion.  Majoi-  Gorrequer  observed,  that  the  wine 
had  been  sent  out  for  the  use  of  General  Bonaparte,  and  that  he 
ought  to  be  obliged  to  drink  it,  or  get  nothing  else. 

\bth. — Wrote  to  Major  Gorrequer,  in  answer  to  some  points 
of  his  last  letter,  and  gave  him  an  explanation  about  tlie  wine 
affair  of  yesterday,  in  which  I  stated  that  General  Gourgaud 
had  affn-med  that  there  was  lead  in  the  wine,  and  had  begged  of 
me  to  procure  some  tests  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
fact ;  adding,  that  I  had  acquainted  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  with  this 
request  the  last  time  I  had  seen  him  in  town.  I  hinted  also  that 
it  was  natural  for  Napoleon  to  believe  General  Gourgaud's  asser- 
tion (who  was  considered  to  be  a  good  chemist),  until  it  was 
proved  not  to  be  correct.  This  letter  I  requested  him  to  lay  be- 
fore the  governor. 

Mtli. — Gave  a  minute  explanation  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  in  per- 
aou  of  the  wine  transaction  between  Captain  Maunsell,  Cipriani 


7$ 


A   VOK'K    KHoM    ST.    JIKJ.KNA. 


itiid  niyi»rlf,  whh  wliicli  his  i\»tIIciu"\  \mis  pIcjiM-il  li>  hji\   In-  w!U 

jM>rlV«'tl_\     MltislUil, 

ThiN  «li«\ ,  Mnj'T  (iorn'i|iH"r,  in  llio  oouiso  of  i-din  t'isnti«>ii  wilh 
ino  rrUtivo  tti  the  proviMiuiiiiig  of  lAHi^NVtxMl,  sitid  iliat  Sir  lliid- 
ii«»n  i.t)Nvr  liiui  olis«>rv»'»l,  thai  aii_>  s(iI«li»Ts  \\\\o  wuiild  iillfiul  at 
lA>n^W(>l)(l  US  •««<rvaiits  to  (iciMTal  Moiiapaito,  tvrre  tinwurthu  of 
rations.  Sir  'IhoinaH  lu-ailo  lu'i;m-d  ««t"  iiu'  lu  try  aiitl  ^vi  him 
Hoiiic  t»f  Nji|H>K<»>irs  |i|at«'  i/'A<»/f,  whirh  lio  ulist-rvt  il  w.iulil.vr// 
lu'ltor  in  that  Nintr,  ihaii  if  it  wrrc  lirckni  ii|>. 

IH/A,  Sir  IlutlMtii  l,(i\v»>  at  I-on^wooil.  Sir  'llioinas  KiinU- 
toKI  iiio  that  Mrrtranil  hati  injiirt'd  hiiitsolf  very  iiiiirh  in  his 
t'oiivrrsatidn  witli  thr  pivornur,  as  ilic  I.illcr  hml  lo\ni(l  it  to 
hv  his  ilntv  Id  writ*"  a  strong  Ulhr  on  tin-  sul'ic*"!  to  Lord 
Italhiirst. 

WUfi. — A  larm>  jiorlion  of  Napoh-on's  |)lal»>  hrokrii  uj),  tin- 
iMi|irrinl  arms  and  tho  i-a^U-s  cut  out  and  put  h\.  Count  Mon- 
lhoU>n  a|>]>li«'d  to  Captain  l*opplt>lon  for  an  i)iru'»M  to  aivoinpany 
him  to  .lanu's  Town,  for  tho  purpose  of  disposini;  of  thr  plato, 
with  wliiih  thi'  hittrr  ar<pn»iiiti'd  the  i^ovrrnor  forthwith  l>v  an 
i>rdrrly.  IvtHvivod  hark  an  onlcr  to  a»(|uaint  Count  Montliolon, 
"that  tht'  monov  proilurfd  l>v  thr  saK*  of  thr  silver  shouM  wot 
III-  paid  to  him,  hut  he  di-posilrd  in  th«*  hands  i<t'  Mr.  HaU'ombo, 
thr  purvryor,  for  thr  uso  of  (J«MH«ral  l>onapart«"." 

'2lfl. — Sir  I'ultonoy  Mah'olm  i-anu'  \ip  to  l.onjiwcod,  in  iudor 
to  lako  loayo  of  Napoh'on,  prior  to  his  iK'parturo  for  iho  C\Hpt' 
of  (lood  llopo,  whirh  was  i'\p»'ot»'d  to  taki<  plai'o  in  a  tow  da\  s. 
Mad  H  liMi^  intfrvii'W,  anil  was  nvoiytnl  vory  i;rariousIy  h\ 
Najiolrun  ;  tho  iH>nvorstttion  was  I'hii'tly  rtOati\o  to  th«>  SrhoKIl, 
Antwerp,  liattli's  in  iJorniany,  tho  l*oU<s,  \i>. 

NVrotc  last  niuht  to  Sir 'I'homas  IJoaih',  l>y  roipiost  of  Madanu- 
lU-rtrand,  to  know  whcthi-r  pormissiou  woidd  ho  jjrantod  that  t. 
phaotoii,  which  had  hooii  purohasod  with  Napidoon's  own  monoy, 
und  uHorwardH  giyoii  hy  him  to  Maihtmo  Hortrand,  lui^hl  bo 
soul  lt>  tho  Capo  for  saU'  Ity  Sir  Tidtonoy  MaU'olm's  sliip.  Con- 
chidod  hy  rotpiostinj^  him  to  U"t  mo  know,  hoforo  ho  appliod  \v 
iho  govornor,  if  thoro  was  an_\  iniproprioty  in  tlio  m^uost,  as  lu 
ihat  oiuso  it  shouKl  not  l>o  mado. 


1816 — OCTOBER.  '  77 

2Srd. — Received  an  answer  fiom  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  an- 
nouncing that  the  governor  had  given  his  consent  for  the  sale  of 
the  phaeton,  with  a  proviso,  that  the  money  derived  from  it 
should  not  be  paid  to  themselves,  but  deposited  in  Mr.  Bal- 
combe's  hands.     Three  of  Bertrand's  servants  very  seriously  ill. 

Heard  a  curious  anecdote  of  General  Vandamme.  When 
made  prisoner  by  the  Russians,  he  was  brought  before  the  Em- 
peror Alexander,  who  reproached  him  in  bitter  terms  with  being 
a  robber,  a  plunderer,  and  a  murderer;  adding  that  no  favor 
could  be  granted  to  such  an  execrable  character.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  an  order  that  he  should  be  sent  to  Siberia,  whilst  the 
other  prisoners  were  sent  to  a  much  less  northern  destination. 
Vandamme  replied,  with  great  sang  froid,  "  It  may  be,  sire, 
that  I  am  a  robber  and  a  plunderer  ;  but  at  least  I  have  not  to 
reproach  myself  with  having  soiled  my  hands  with  the  blood  of 
my  father !" 

Met  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  on  his  way  to  Longwood,  -who  ob- 
served, that  General  Bonaparte  had  done  himself  a  great  deal  of 
mischief  by  the  letters  which  he  caused  Count  Muntholon  to 
write,  and  that  he  wished  him  to  know  it.  That  by  conducting 
himself  properly  for  some  years,  the  ministers  might  believe  him 
to  be  sincere,  and  allow  him  to  return  to  England.  He  added, 
that  he  (Sir  Hudson)  had  written  such  letters  to  England  about 
Count  Las  Cases,  as  would  effectually  prevent  his  ever  being  per- 
mitted to  return  to  France.  On  his  arrival  at  Longwood,  the 
fowls  which  had  been  sent  up  for  the  day's  consumption  were 
shown  to  his  excellency  by  Captain  P.  He  was  pleased  to  ad- 
mit that  they  were  very  bad. 

21th. — The  commissioners  came  up  to  Longwood  gate,  and 
wanted  to  enter,  but  were  refused  admission  by  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  as  their  passes  did  not  specify  Longwood,  but  merely 
"  wherever  a  British  officer  might  pass." 

2Sth. — Napoleon  occupied  in  reading  Denon's  large  work  on 
Egypt,  from  which  he  was  making  some  extracts  with  his  own 
hand. 

October  1st. — Repeated  to  Napoleon  what  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
had  desired  me  on  the  23d.     He  replied,  "  I  expect  nothing  from 


7d  A    \o\CV.    ri;<>M    ST.    HKI.ESA. 

the  pr«'sent  ininistiv  luit  ill  tn-atniiiii.  Tlic  luoic  llifv  \saiit  t<^ 
lessi'ii  iiu»,  llic  iimii'  I  will  rxiilt  tiiysi  If.  \l  was  my  iiitfiifioii 
to  havo  nssuiiuii  tlit>  iiaiiu'  «)f  t'dloin-l  Mi-uioii,  wlio  was  killiil 
h\  in\  sitlf  at  Ar«'ii!a,  covi-ring  mo  with  his  liocly,  ami  to  have 
livi'il  as  a  privato  person  in  England,  in  some  part  of  tin- ciHiiitiv , 
whtTt'  I  might  havo  lived  rotirod,  withont  ivi  r  dcsiiinij  tn  mix 
ill  tho  giand  world.  I  would  novor  have  gout-  to  London,  noi 
have  dined  ont.  Prol)ably  I  should  have  seen  very  few  persons. 
Perhaps  I  might  liave  formed  a  friendship  with  some  savaiis.  I 
would  have  rode  out  every  day,  and  then  returneil  to  my  hooks." 
1  observed,  that  as  long  as  he  kept  up  the  title  of  majesty,  the 
Englisli  ministers  would  have  a  prete.xt  for  keeping  him  in  St. 
Helena.  He  replied,  "they  forec  me  to  it.  1  wanted  to  assume 
an  incognito  on  my  arrival  here,  whieh  was  proposed  to  the  ad- 
miral, l»ut  they  will  not  permit  it.  They  insist  on  calling  mo 
General  Bonaparte.  1  have  no  reason  to  he  ashamed  of  that 
title,  but  1  will  not  take  it  from  them.  If  the  re|iulilic  had  not 
a  legal  existenee.  it  had  no  more  right  to  constitute  me  general, 
than  first  magistrate.  If  the  admiral  had  remained,"  continued 
he,  "  perhaps  matters  might  have  been  arranged.  He  had  some 
heart,  and  to  do  him  justice,  was  incapable  of  a  mean  action. 
Do  you  think,"  added  he,  "  that  ho  will  do  us  an  injury  on  his 
arrival  in  England  1"  I  replied,  "  I  do  not  think  that  he  will  ren- 
der you  any  service,  particularly  in  consequence  of  the  manner 
in  which  he  was  treated  when  he  last  came  up  to  see  yon,  but  he 
will  not  tell  any  falsehoods  ;  he  will  strictly  adhere  to  the  truth, 
and  give  his  opinion  aVjout  you,  which  is  not  very  favorable." 
"Why  so,"  replied  he,  "we  were  very  well  together  on  board 
ship.  What  can  he  say  of  me  1  that  I  want  to  escape,  and 
mount  the  throne  of  France  again  ?"  I  replied,  that  it  was  very 
probable  he  would  Itoth  think  and  say  so.  "  Bah,"  replied  Na 
poleon.  "  If  1  were  in  England  now,  and  a  deputation  from 
France  were  to  come  and  offer  me  the  throne,  I  would  not  ac- 
cept of  it,  unless  I  knew  such  to  be  the  unanimous  wish  of  the 
nation.  Otherwise  I  should  be  obliged  to  turn  bourremi,  (execu 
tioner,)  and  cut  off  the  heads  of  thousands  to  keep  myself  upon 
'.V — oceans  of  blood   nnisi  flow  to  keep  me  there.—  l  have  made 


1816 — OCTOBER.  7fi 

noise  enough  in  the  world  already,  perhaps  too  much,  and  am 
now  getting  old,  and  want  retirement.  These,"  continued  he, 
"were  the  motives  which  induced  me  to  abdicate  the  last  time." 
I  observed  to  him,  that  when  he  was  emperor,  he  had  caused  Sir 
George  Cockburn's  brother  to  be  arrested,  when  envoy  at  Ham- 
burg, and  conveyed  to  France,  where  he  was  detained  for  some 
years.  He  appeared  surprised  at  this,  and  endeavored  to  re 
collect  it.  After  a  pause,  he  asked  me,  if  I  was  sure  that  the 
person  so  arrested  was  Sir  George  Cockburn's  brother.  I  re- 
plied, that  I  was  perfectly  so,  as  the  admiral  had  told  me  the 
circumstance  himself.  "It  is  likely  enough,"  replied  he,  "  but  I 
do  not  recollect  the  name.  I  suppose,  however,  that  it  must 
have  been  at  the  time  when  I  caused  all  the  English  I  could  find 
on  the  continent  to  be  detained,  because  your  government  had 
seized  upon  all  the  French  ships,  sailors,  and  passengers  they 
could  lay  their  hands  upon  in  harbor,  or  at  sea,  before  the  decla- 
ration of  war,  I,  in  my  turn,  seized  upon  all  the  English  that  1 
could  find  at  land,  in  order  to  show  them,  that  if  they  were  all- 
powerful  at  sea,  and  could  do  what  they  liked  there,  I  was  equally 
so  by  land,  and  had  as  good  a  right  to  seize  people  on  my  ele- 
ment as  they  had  upon  theirs.  "  Now,''''  said  he,  "  I  can  compre- 
hend the  reason  why  your  ministers  selected  him.  I  am  sur- 
prised, however,  that  he  never  told  me  any  thing  about  it.  A 
man  of  delicacy  would  not  have  accepted  the  task  of  conducting 
me  here  under  similar  circumstances.  You  will  see,"  continued 
he,  "that  in  a  short  time  the  English  will  cease  to  hate  me.  So 
many  of  them  have  been,  and  are  in  France,  where  they  will 
hear  the  truth,  that  they  will  produce  a  revolution  of  opinion  in 
England — I  will  leave  it  to  them  to  justify  me,  and  I  have  no 
doubts  about  the  result." 

Learned  that  the  commissioners  had  obtained  permission  from 
Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to  come  as  far  as  the  inner  gate  of  Longwood. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  accompanied  by  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  Major 
Gorrequer,  Wynyard,  and  Prichard,  and  followed  by  three  dra- 
goons and  a  servant,  rode  into  Longwood,  alighted  in  front  of  the 
billiard-room,  and  demanded  to  "see  Gene^-al  Bonaparte."  A 
reply  was  given  l)y  General  Monlholon,  that  he  was  indisposed. 


BO  ▲    VOU'K    KKt'M    sr.     IlKLKNA, 

Tills  ilid  not  sniist'v  his  f\i't'll»'iu_\ ,  wlio  st-iil  jij^aiii  in  rjiliR-r  au 
iiuthoritativo  maiiiu'r,  lo  suy,  that  h»;  had  sonu'thiiij^  to  com 
iiumicato,  whith  hi-  waiilod  to  deliviT  in  jumsou  to  (umutuI  Mo 
napartc.  and  to  no  othiT  porson  woiihl  ht-  >/\\v  it.  An  answrr 
Has  sent,  that  notioe  wonld  ho  jjjivfn  to  him  when  he  ctiuld  Ite 
received,  that  Napoleon  was  then  snUeiiiifj;  with  a  had  tooth.  At 
four,  1*.  M.,  Napoleon  sent  for  me,  and  desired  me  to  look  at 
i>ne  of  the  dtiiteti  saplenlia;,  wliieh  was  carions  and  h)ose.  He 
tiien  asked  me  if  I  knew  what  the  governor  wanted,  or  why  he 
wished  to  see  him.  I  replied,  that,  perhaps,  he  liad  some  com- 
munieation  from  Lord  lialliurst,  which  he  did  not  like  to  deliver 
to  any  other  person.  "  It  will  lie  better  for  ns  not  to  meet,"  said 
Napoleon.  "  It  is  probahly  some  belise  of  Lord  Bathnrst,  which 
he  will  make  worse  by  his  ungracions  manner  of  communicating 
it.  1  am  sure  it  is  nothing  that  is  good,  or  he  would  not  be  so 
an.xious  to  deliver  it  himself.  Lord  *  *  *  *  is  a  bad  man,  his 
communications  are  bad,  and  /te  is  worse  than  all.  Nothing  good 
can  arise  from  an  interview." 

"  The  last  time  I  saw  him,  he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  sabre  two 
or  three  times  in  a  violent  manner,  therefore  go  to  him  or  to 
Sir  T.  Reade  to-morrow,  and  tell  him  that  if  he  has  anything  to 
communicate,  he  had  better  send  it  to  Bertrand,  or  Bertrand  will 
go  to  his  house  ;  assure  him  that  he  may  rely  upon  Bertrand's 
making  a  fjiithful  report.  Or  let  him  send  Colonel  Reade  to  me 
to  explain  what  he  has  to  say  ;  1  will  receive  and  hear  him,  be- 
cause he  will  be  only  the  bearer  of  orders,  and  not  the  giver  of 
them;  therefore  if  he  comes  upon  a  bad  mission,  I  shall  not  be 
angry,  as  he  will  only  obey  the  orders  of  a  superior."  I  endeav- 
oicd  to  induce  him  to  meet  the  governor,  in  order,  if  possil>le,  to 
make  up  matters  between  them  ;  but  he  replied,  "  To  meet  him 
would  be  the  worst  mode  of  attempting  it,  as  he  was  confident 
it  was  some  belise  of  Lord  Bathurst's,  which  he  would  make 
worse,  and  convert  into  an  insult  by  his  brutal  mode  of  deliver- 
ing  it.  You  know,"  added  he,  "  I  never  got  into  a  passion  with 
the  admiral,  liecause  even  when  he  had  something  bad  to  com- 
municate, he  did  it  with  some  feeling ;  but  this  man  treats  us  as 
if  we  were  so  many  deserter.s." 


1816 — OCTOBER.  81 

Knowing  that  Sir  Thomas  Reade  was  quite  incapable  of  ex- 
plaining to  him,  in  either  French  or  Italian,  the  purport  of  any 
communication  exceeding  a  few  words,  I  asked  him,  "  In  case 
Sir  Thomas  Reade  should  not  find  himself  capable  of  explaining 
perfectly  every  particular,  and  should  commit  what  he  had  to  say 
to  paper,  if  he  would  read  it,  or  allow  it  to  be  read  to  him?" 
he  replied,  "certainly,  let  him  do  this,  or  send  it  to  Bertrand. 
As  to  me,  perhaps  I  shall  not  see  him  for  six  months.  Let  him 
break  open  the  doors  or  level  the  house,  I  am  not  subject  to  the 
English  laws,  because  they  do  not  protect  me.  I  am  sure,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  that  he  has  nothing  pleasant  to  communicate,  or  he 
would  not  be  so  anxious  to  do  it  personally.  Nothing  but 
insults  or  bad  news  ever  came  from  Lord  Bathurst.  I  wish  they 
would  give  orders  to  have  me  dispatched.  I  do  not  like  to  commit 
suicide ;  it  is  a  thing  that  I  have  always  disapproved  of.  I  have 
made  a  vow  to  drain  the  cup  to  the  last  draught ;  but  I  should 
be  most  rejoiced  if  they  would  send  directions  to  put  me  to  death." 

2nd. — Saw  Napoleon  in  the  morning.  A  toothache,  he  said, 
had  prevented  him  from  sleeping  a  great  part  of  the  night :  his 
cheek  was  swelled.  After  having  examined  the  tooth,  I  recom- 
mended the  extraction  of  it.  He  desired  me  to  go  to  the  governor 
and  deliver  a  message,  the  purport  of  which  was,  that  in  conse- 
quence of  indisposition,  pain,  and  want  of  sleep,  he  found  him- 
self unfit  to  listen  calmly  to  communications,  or  to  enter  into 
discussions  ;  therefore,  that  he  wished  the  governor  would  com- 
municate to  Count  Bertrand  whatever  he  had  to  say.  That 
Count  Bertrand  would  fiiithfully  report  it  to  him.  If  he  would 
not  communicate  it  to  Count  Bertrand,  or  to  any  other  resident 
at  Longwood,  Napoleon  would  have  no  objection  to  receive  it 
from  Colonel  Reade.  The  remainder  of  the  message  was  similar 
to  what  he  had  said  on  the  same  subject  yesterday.  "If,"  added 
he,  "  that  man  were  to  bring  me  word  that  a  frigate  had  arrived 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  me  to  England,  I  should  conceive  it  to 
be  bad  news,  because  he  was  the  bearer  of  it.  With  such  a 
temper  of  mind,  you  must  see  how  improper  it  would  be  that 
an  interview  should  take  place.  He  came  up  here  yesterday, 
•urroundsd  with  his  staff,  as  if  he  were  going  in  state  to  asiist 

4* 


82  A    VOK'K    FROM    ST.    IIKl-ENA. 

at  an  iwociiticii,  iiistcjul  of  a^lviiii^  piivjitfly  tn  sec  nu'.  Three 
tinii's  has  ho  jjuiio  away  in  a  jtassion,  thoii-foii'  it  will  l»c  better 
that  no  in«ne  interviews  should  take  plaee  l)etween  lis,  as  iiu 
good  ean  arise  fnun  it  ;  and  as  he  represents  his  nation  here,  I 
do  not  like  to  insult  or  make  severe  remarks  to  him,  similar  tc 
those  1  was  ol)liged  to  express  before." 

Went  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  to  whom  I  made  known  the  mes- 
sage with  whieh  I  had  been  charged,  suppressing  the  ofTensive 
parts,  liut  communicating  all  that  was  necessary  to  elucidate  its 
meaning.  His  excellency  desired  me  to  give  it  to  him  in  writing, 
and  then  told  me,  that  the  secretary  of  state  had  sent  directions 
to  him  to  inquire  very  minutely  concerning  a  letter  which  had 
aj)peared  in  one  of  the  Portsmouth  papers  concerning  Bunaparte, 
a!id  which  had  given  great  offence  to  his  majesty's  ministers; 
particularly  as  it  had  been  reported  to  them  by  Captain  Hamil- 
ton, of  the  Havannah  frigate,  that  I  was  cither  the  author,  or  had 
V)rought  it  on  board.  His  excellency  then  asked  me  who  I  had 
written  to,  adding,  "there  is  no  harm  in  the  letter.  It  is  very 
correct  in  general,  but  the  ministers  do  not  like  that  any  thing 
should  be  published  about  him.  Every  thing  must  come  through 
them  ;"  also  that  Captain  Hamilton  had  reported  that  it  was  an 
anonymous  letter,  and  expressly  intended  for  publication.  I 
replied  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  that  I  had  never  written  an  anony- 
mous letter  in  my  life,  and  that  several  letters  has  been  published 
in  the  newspapers,  of  which  I  had  been  supposed  the  author, 
until  another  individual  had  acknowledged  them  to  have  been 
written  by  him.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  desired  me  to  write  a  letter 
of  explanation  to  him  on  the  subject ;  after  w  hich  he  dictated  to 
Sir  Thomas  lleade  what  he  wished  me  to  express  in  answer  to 
General  Bonaparte,  of  w  hich  I  took  the  following  copy  ;  which 
the  governor  read  before  I  left  the  house. 

"  The  principal  object  of  the  Governor's  visit  to  Longwood  to 
see  General  Bonaparte,  was  from  a  sense  of  attention  towards 
him,  in  order  to  acquaint  him,  first,  with  instructions  received 
concerning  his  officers,  which  could  only  be  decided  by  him, 
before  informing  them.  The  gDvernor  would  wish  the  communi- 
Ofttion  with  General  Bonaparte  should  be  made  by  himself,  in  tha 


1816— OCTOBER.  80 

presence  of  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  or  some  of  his  own  staff,  and  oua 
of  the  French  generals.  He  never  intended  to  say  any  thino 
which  would  affront  or  insult  General  Bonaparte ;  on  the  con- 
trary, he  wished  to  conciliate  and  modify  the  strict  letter  of  his 
instructions,  with  every  attention  and  respect  to  him,  and  can- 
not conceive  the  cause  of  so  much  resentment  manifested  by 
General  Bonaparte  towards  him.  If  he  would  not  consent  to  an 
interview  with  the  governor,  in  the  presence  of  other  persons,  the 
governor  would  send  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  (if  he  consented  to  it,) 
to  communicate  the  general  purport  of  what  he  had  to  say,  leav- 
ing some  points  for  future  discussion.  If  Count  Beitrand  was 
sent  to  the  governor,  some  expression  of  concern  would  be  re- 
quired from  him,  for  the  language  made  use  of  by  him  to  the 
governor,  on  the  last  interview  which  the  governor  undertook,  by 
desire  of  General  Bonaparte  himself;  and  the  governor  conceives 
the  same  expression  of  concern  necessary  from  Count  BcJti'and, 
on  the  part  of  General  Bonaparte  himself,  for  his  intemperate 
language  in  the  last  interview  with  the  governor;  and  theii.^  the 
latter  will  express  his  concern  for  any  words  made  use  of  by  him 
in  reply,  which  may  have  been  deemed  unpleasant,  as  there  was 
no  intention  on  his  pai't  of  saying  any  thing  offensive,  his  words 
being  merely  repelling  an  attack  made  upon  him,  and  this  he 
would  not  do  to  a  person  in  any  other  situation  than  General 
Bonaparte.  But  if  the  latter  is  determined  to  dispute  with  the 
governor  for  endeavoring  to  execute  his  orders,  he  sees  little  hope 
of  a  proper  understanding  between  them." 

On  my  return  to  Longwood,  I  minutely  explained  the  above 
to  Napoleon,  both  alone,  and  in  the  presence  of  Count  Bertrand. 
Napoleon  smiled  contemptuously  at  the  idea  of  his  apologizing 
to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 

3r-G?. — Saw  Napoleon  in  the  morning.  After  I  had  inquired 
into  the  state  of  his  health,  he  entered  upon  the  business  of 
yesterday.  "  As  this  governor,"  says  he,  "  declares  that  he  will 
not  communicate  the  M'hole  to  Reade,  but  intends  to  leserve 
some  fut\u'e  points  to  discussion,  I  shall  not  see  him,  for  I  only 
agree  to  see  Reade,  in  order  to  avoid  the  sight  of  the  other;  and 
by  reserving  the  points  he  speaks  of,  he  might  come  up  again  to 


84  A    VitlCK    FKt>M    ST.    IlKLKNA. 

morrow  or  next  day,  and  doinand  another  interview.  If  he 
wants  to  oomniunicato,  lot  liini  send  his  adjutant-general  to  Her- 
trand,  or  to  Montholon,  or  to  Las  Cases,  or  Gourgaud,  or  to  you; 
or  send  for  one  of  them,  and  explain  it  himself;  or  let  him  com- 
munieate  the  whoh'  to  Koade,  or  t<>  Sir  (ieorge  Hingham,  or 
someh«)dy  else  ;  and  then  I  will  see  the  poison  so  chosen.  If  lit- 
still  insists  to  see  me,  I  will  write  myself  in  answer,  'The  em 
jieror  Napoleon  will  not  see  you,  because  the  three  last  tinies 
you  were  with  him,  you  insulted  him,  and  he  does  not  wish  more 
communieatiun  with  you.'  I  well  know,  that  if  we  have  another 
interview,  there  will  be  disputes  and  abuse  ;  a  suspicious  gesture 
might  produce,  I  know  not  what.  lie,  for  his  own  sake,  ought 
not  to  desire  one,  after  the  language  which  I  applied  to  him  the 
last  time.  I  told  him  before  the  admiral,  when  he  said  that  he 
only  did  his  duty,  that  so  did  the  hangman,  but  that  one  was  not 
obliged  to  see  that  hangman  until  the  moment  of  execution.  Ci 
sono  state  tre  scene,  Scene  vergognose !  (There  have  been  three 
acts,  shameful  acts!)  I  do  not  wish  to  renew  them.  I  know 
that  my  blood  will  be  heated.  I  will  tell  him  that  no  power  on 
earth  obliges  a  prisoner  to  see  and  debate  with  his  executioner ; 
for  his  conduct  has  made  him  such  to  me.  He  pretends  that  he 
acts  according  to  his  instructions ;  a  government  two  thousand 
leagues  distant  can  do  no  more  than  point  out  the  general  man- 
ner in  which  things  must  be  conducted,  and  must  leave  a  great 
discretionary  power,  which  he  distorts  and  turns  in  the  worst 
possible  manner,  in  order  to  torment  me.  A  proof  that  he  is 
worse  than  his  government,  is,  that  they  have  sent  out  several 
things  to  make  me  comfortable  ;  but  he  does  nothing  but  torment, 
msult,  and  render  my  exi.stence  as  miserable  as  possible.  To 
complete  the  Vjusiness,  he  writes  letters  full  of  smoothness  and 
sweetness  ;  professing  every  regard,  which  he  afterwards  sends 
home,  to  make  the  world  believe  that  he  is  our  best  friend.  I 
want  to  avoid  another  scena  with  him.  I  never,  in  the  height  of 
my  power,  made  use  of  such  language  to  any  man,  as  I  was 
compelled  to  apply  to  him.  It  would  have  been  unpardonable 
at  the  Tuillerie.s.  I  would  .sooner  have  a  t<joth  drawn,  than  have 
an  interview  with  him.     He  has  a   bad  mission,  and  fulfils  it 


1816 — OCTOBER.  85 

bndry.  I  do  not  think  that  he  is  aware  how  much  we  hate  and 
despise  him  ;  I  should  like  him  to  know  it.  He  suspects  every 
body,  even  his  own  staff  are  not  free  from  it.  You  see  that  he 
will  not  confide  to  Reade.  Why  does  he  not  go  to  Montholon, 
or  Las  Cases,  if  he  does  not  like  Bertrand  ?"  I  replied,  that  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  had  said  he  could  not  repose  confidence  in  th<. 
fidelity  of  either  of  them,  in  reporting  the  purport  of  his  cor 
versation.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  he  is  offended  with  Montholon 
about  that  letter,  written  in  August  last,  and  with  Las  Cases, 
because  he  not  only  writes  the  truth  to  a  lady  in  London,  but 
tells  it  everywhere  here."  1  replied,  "  the  governor  has  accused 
Count  Las  Cases  of  having  written  many  falsehoods  respecting 
what  has  passed  here."  "  Las  Cases,"  replied  he,  "  would  not 
be  blockhead  enough  to  write  lies,  when  he  was  obliged  to  send 
the  letters  containing  them  through  his  hands.  He  only  writes 
the  truth,  which  that  geolier  (jailor)  does  not  wish  to  be  known. 
1  am  sure  that  he  wants  to  tell  me  that  some  of  my  generals  are 
to  be  removed,  and  wishes  to  throw  the  odium  of  sending  them 
away  upon  me,  by  leaving  the  choice  to  me.  They  would  send 
you  away  too,  if  they  were  not  afraid  you  would  do  some  mis- 
chief in  England,  by  telling  what  you  have  seen.  Their  design, 
I  believe,  is  to  send  every  body  away  who  might  be  inclined  to 
make  my  life  less  disagreeable.  Truly,  they  have  chosen  a 
pretty  representative  for  Bathurst.  I  would  sooner  have  an 
interview  with  the  corporal  of  the  guard,  than  with  that  galeriano. 
How  different  it  was  with  the  admiral !  We  used  to  converse 
together  sociably,  on  different  subjects,  like  friends.  But  this 
man  is  only  fit  to  oppress  and  insult  those  whom  misfortune  has 
placed  in  his  power." 

After  this  he  conversed  upon  various  subjects.  He  nuide  some 
observations  upon  the  marriage  of  the  Princess  Charlotte  with 
Prince  Leopold,  and  spoke  in  terms  of  praise  of  the  latter,  whom 
he  had  seen  at  Paris  during  his  reign. 

According  to  his  desire,  I  wrote  an  account  of  what  he  had 
said,  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe ;  avoiding,  however,  to  repeat  the 
strongest  of  his  expressions. 

4</i. — Sir  Thomas  Reade  came  up  to  my  room  at  Longwood, 


86  A    VOU'K    KKOM    ST     IIKI.KNA. 

\»ith  a  writti'ii  |>a|ur  from  tin-  i,'nv(rii(»r,  coiilniiiing  llir  ii.  v» 
instruolii>iis  whiih  tin-  latter  had  ri'i-i-ivetl  fntin  Eiiglaiid.  I  wnit 
to  NnjH>lo<iii  and  aiuioiinri'd  liim.  IK'  aski-d  iih>  "  if  lie  was  ii; 
full  p<.)s,>iession  «>f  ovi-rvthiii}!;  ?"  I  rojdicd,  that  he  had  told  ino 
80  Ih-  dosiri'il  iiir  tu  iiitrodiioo  him.  Wlini  1  went  hack,  Sir 
Thomas  lu-ade  toM  iiu'  that  his  mission  was  noi  a  very  pleasant 
Olio,  and  that  he  iiopid  "  Bonaparte  wouM  not  lie  on'einled  with 
him,"  and  asked  me  how  he  slionld  explain  it  to  him.  I  told 
him  how  to  o.\press  himself  to  this  efl'eet,  in  Italian.  We 
then  went  into  the  garden  where  Napoleon  was:  I  introduced 
him,  and  letl  them  together.  In  a  few  minutes,  Napoleon 
called  Connt  Las  Cases,  and  told  him  to  translate  aloud,  in 
French,  the  contents  of  the  paper,  according  as  Reade  repeated 
it.  When  Reade  came  to  my  room,  on  his  return,  he  said  that 
Napoleon  had  been  very  civil  to  him,  and  that  so  far  from  being 
offended,  he  had  asked  him  the  news  and  laughed,  and  only  ob- 
served (as  the  knight  repeated  in  his  Italian),  "Piti  mi  si  persegui- 
(era,  meglio  andrli  e  riioislrera  al  moiido  cite  rahhia  di  persecuziuiii. 
Fra  pijco  tempo  mi  si  leverenno  tutti  i/ll  (i/lri,  e  qiialche  mattiua 
in''aminazzeranuoy  (If  he  should  persecute  longer,  I  shall  do 
better,  and  I  shall  show  to  the  world  that  I  am  enraged  l)y  per- 
secutions. In  a  short  time,  all  the  others  will  rise  up,  and  some 
morning  they  will  kill  me.)  Sir  Thomas  then  allowed  me  to 
read  the  paper,  the  contents  of  which  were  as  follows:  "That 
the  French  who  wished  to  remain  with  General  Bonaparte,  must 
sign  the  simple  form,  which  would  be  given  to  them,  of  their 
willingness  to  submit  to  whatever  restrictions  might  be  imposed 
upon  General  Bonaparte,  without  making  any  remarks  of  their 
own  upon  it.  Those  who  refused  would  be  sent  off*  directly  to 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  establishment  to  be  reduced  in 
number  foui-  persons ;  those  who  remained  were  ti;  consider 
themselves  to  be  amenable  to  the  laws,  in  the  same  manner  as 
if  they  were  British  subjects,  especially  to  those  which  had  been 
framed  for  the  safe  custody  of  General  Bonaparte,  and  declaring 
the  aiding  and  assisting  of  him  to  escape,  feiony.  Any  of  them 
abusing,  reflecting  upon,  or  behaving  ill  to  the  governor,  or  the 
government  they   were  under,  would  be  forthwith  sent  to  the 


1816 — OCTOBER,  87 

Cape,  where  no  facilities  would  be  afforded  for  their  conveyance 
to  Europe."  It  explained,  also,  that  it  was  not  to  be  understood, 
that  the  obligation  was  to  be  eternal  to  those  who  signed.  Thera 
was  also  a  demand  for  1,400^.  paid  for  books,  which  had  been 
sent  out.  The  whole  was  couched  in  language  of  a  highly 
peremptory  nature.  Sir  Thomas  then  told  me  that  Count  Bei- 
trand  was  to  go  the  following  day  to  Plantation  House,  and  that 
I  might  hint  to  him,  that  if  he  behaved  himself  well,  perhaps 
none  but  domestics  would  be  sent  away,  but  that  all  depended 
upon  his  '■'■good  behavior.''^ 

5th. — While  walking  down  the  park  in  the  morning,  thinking 
of  the  occurrences  of  yesterday,  I  heard  a  voice  calling  me. 
Turning  about,  1  was  surprised  to  see  the  emperor  beckoning  to, 
and  calling  me.  After  he  asked  how  I  was,  he  said,  '■'■  Ebbene, 
bugiardo  sempre  quesio  governatore !  (well,  does  this  governor 
continue  to  lie !)  There  was  nothing  in  the  intelligence,  which 
he  said  he  could  only  communicate  to  myself,  which  might  not 
have  been  made  known  through  Bertrand,  or  any  one  else.  But 
he  thought  that  he  had  an  opportunity  of  insulting  and  grieving 
me,  which  he  eagerly  embraced.  He  came  up  here  with  his 
staff,  just  as  if  he  were  going  to  announce  a  wedding,  with  exul- 
tation and  joy  painted  on  his  countenance,  at  the  idea  of  having 
it  in  his  power  to  afflict  me.  He  thought  to  plant  a  stilo  in  my 
heart,  and  could  not  deny  himself  the  pleasure  of  witnessing 
and  enjoying  it  personally.  Never  has  he  given  a  greater  proof 
of  a  bad  mind,  than  thus  wishing  to  stab  to  the  heart  one  whom 
misfortunes  had  placed  in  his  power."  He  then  repeated  some 
parts  of  the  communication  of  yesterday,  and  observed  that  it 
ought  to  be  sent  to  them  in  writing,  as  it  was  impossible  for  a 
F''enchman  to  understand  a  communication  in  English,  by  having 
heard  it  read  only  a  few  minutes.  1  took  the  liberty  of  strongly 
recommending  that  matters  should  be  accommodated  as  much 
as  possible  :  as  I  said  I  had  reason  to  believe  that  the  governor 
was  inclined  to  grant  that  domestics  should  be  sent  away,  instead 
of  any  of  the  generals  ;  but  that  if  irritated  he  might  act  other 
wise.  He  replied,  "  Voi  ragionale  come  un  uomo  libero,  (you 
speak  like  a  free  man,)  hut  we  are  not  free  :  we  are  in  thepowei 


S8  A   VOICE    FIU>M    ST.    HKLKNA. 

of  11  ffoja,  mm  ce  rinu'ilio,  (Itaiiginaii,  tlit'ir  is  no  roiiu-ci} .)  Tluj 
will  si'iiil  uway  tlu>  losl  \>\  dt-jiii'i's,  ami  il  is  as  wrll  fur  tlii'ii;  lo 
jjo  iu>\v,  as  ill  a  littii'  time.  What  advantam'  sliall  I  gain  by 
having  tluiu  lu  ro  until  tlio  arrival  "f  tlu-  nr\i  .s|ii|i  from  Eng- 
.nd,  or  until  that  anitmtle  finds  out  some  pniixi  lt>  send  them 
Away  ?  1  wtnild  rather  they  were  all  gone,  than  to  iiave  four  oi 
five  persons  tremhling  ul)oiJt  me,  having  the  dread  of  being 
f'ireeif  on  board  ship  constantly  hanging  over  their  head.  For, 
by  that  eommuniialiou  of  yi'sterday,  they  are  placed  entirely  at 
his  discretion.  Let  him  send  everybody  away,  plant  sentinels 
ut  the  doors  and  windows,  and  send  up  nothing  but  bread  and 
water,  I  regard  it  not.  My  mind  is  free.  I  am  just  as  inde- 
pendetit  as  when  I  commanded  an  army  of  six  hundred  thousand 
men — as  1  told  him  the  other  day.  This  heart  is  as  free  as  when 
1  gave  laws  lo  Europe.  lie  wants  them  to  sign  restrictions 
without  knowing  what  they  are.  No  honest  man  would  sign  an 
obligation,  without  first  knowing  what  it  was.  But  he  wants 
them  to  sign  to  whatever  he  likes  to  impose  hereafter,  and  then, 
with  lies  always  at  command,  he  w  ill  assert  that  he  has  changed 
nothing.  He  is  angry  with  Las  Cases,  because  he  wrote  to  his 
friends  that  he  was  badly  lodged,  and  badly  treated.  Was  there 
ever  heard  of  such  tyranny  ?  He  treats  people  in  the  most  bar- 
barous manner  ;  heaps  injuries  and  insults  upon  them,  and  then 
wants  to  deprive  them  of  the  liberty  of  complaint.  I  do  not," 
continued  he,  "  think  that  Lord  Liverpool,  or  even  Lord  Castle- 
reagh,  would  allow  me  to  be  treated  in  the  way  I  am.  I  believe 
that  this  governor  only  writes  to  Lord  Bathurst,  to  whom  he  tells 
what  he  likes." 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  signified  to  me  yesterday,  that  he  had  done 
every  thing  in  his  power  to  prove  (after  my  communication  to 
him)  that  there  was  nothing  vindictive  in  his  conduct  towards 
General  Bonaparte ;  but  that  not  having  been  met,  he  was  better 
pleased  to  leave  matters  to  their  natural  course,  and  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  authority  to  which  they  had  been  submitted  ;  and 
that  I  might  most  distinctly  contradict  to  General  Bonaparte, 
that  he  had  laid  his  hand  upon  his  sword  ;  that  witnesses  could 
prove  it;  that  none  but  a  confiruifd  villain  could  think  of  doing 


1816 — OCTOBER.  89 

do  against  an  unarmed  man.  That  with  respect  to  the  instruc- 
tions he  had  received,  and  his  manner  of  making  them  known; 
never  having  regarded  General  Bonaparte's  opinion  in  any  point, 
whether  as  to  matter  or  manner,  as  an  oracle  by  which  to  regu- 
late his  judgment,  he  was  not  disposed  to  think  less  favorably 
of  the  instructions,  or  of  his  mode  of  executing  them ;  on  the 
contrary,  that  Bonaparte  was,  he  feared,  insensible  to  any  deli 
eacy  of  proceeding  ;  so  that  with  him,  one  must  either  be  a  blind 
admirer  of  his  frailties,  or  a  yielding  instrument  to  work  with,  a 
mere  slave  in  thought  to  him.  Otherwise,  he  who  has  business 
which  opposes  his  views,  must  make  up  his  mind  to  every  species 
of  obloquy.  He  added,  that  he  had  sent  Sir  Thomas  Reade  with 
his  communication  ;  and  concluded  by  intimating,  that  before 
General  Bonaparte  proposed  any  other  style  of  appellation,  he 
should  himself  drop  the  title  of  emperor,  and  if  he  wished  to 
assume  a  feigned  name,  why  did  he  not  propose  one  ? 

Count  Bertrand  went  to  Plantation  House,  where  he  learned 
that  Piontkowski  and  three  of  the  domestics,  were  to  be  sent 
away. 

0/A. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  to  Longwood,  accompanied 
by  Colonel  Wynyard.  They  went  into  Captain  Poppleton's 
room,  where  they  appeared  to  be  very  busily  occupied  for  two 
hours.  During  this  time,  the  governor  frequently  came  out,  and 
walked  up  and  down  before  the  door,  with  one  of  his  arms  ele- 
vated, and  the  end  of  a  finger  in  the  angle  of  his  mouth,  as  was 
his  general  custom  when  in  thought.  When  they  had  finished,  a 
sealed  packet  was  given  to  Captain  Poppleton,  to  be  delivered  to 
Count  Bertrand  ;  after  which  his  excellency  came  to  me,  and 
after  some  conversation,  asked  if  I  thought  that  any  copies  had 
been  distributed  of  Montholon's  letter  to  him  1  I  replied,  that  it 
was  very  probable,  as  there  was  no  secret  made  of  its  contents ; 
and  that  the  French,  as  he  well  knew,  publicly  avowed  their  in- 
tention and  desire  to  circulate  copies  of  it.  He  asked  me,  if  I 
thought  that  the  commissioners  had  got  a  copy.  I  replied,  "very 
likely."  He  appeared  very  uneasy  at  this  at  first ;  but  after- 
wards said,  that  he  had  shown  the  letter  to  them  himself.  He 
then  asked  me  if  I  had  got  a  copy.     I  replied,  I  had.     This 


90  A    VOkK    FICOM    Sr.    HKLKNA. 

alarmed  his  t'xct'lItMio)  much  ;  wli"  (iciuaiiiJod  to  st-e  it,  and  said, 
that  it  woidii  In  j'floni/  to  .si-iid  it  to  Engliiiid.  After  soiiu-  dis. 
rus,sii>n  ujH'ii  the  Mil>j»it,  during  which  1  i)i)soivi'(l,  that,  consi- 
dering n>v  situation,  and  n\)-  l>eing  employed  as  I  was  between 
Longwood  and  l^hintation  House,  1  could  not  he  ignorant  of  the 
principal  part  of  wiiat  was  passing.  His  excellenc}  said,  true; 
and  that  it  was  luy  duly  to  tell  him  ever\  thing  that  occurred 
helwecii  (icneral  Bonaparte  and  myself,  1  n-piied,  that  if  there 
was  an)  plot  for  his  escape,  or  correspondence  tending  in  it,  or 
any  thing  sus])icious,  1  >hould  conceive  it  my  duty  U>  give  him 
notice  of  it;  also  if  any  thing  of  political  importance  was  uttered 
by  Napoleon,  or  anecdote  clearing  up  any  part  of  his  history,  or 
which  might  prove  serviceable  to  him,  I  would  make  him  ac- 
quainted with  it;  but  that  I  could  not  think  of  telling  him  every 
thing,  especially  any  thing  abusive  or  injurious,  that  passed  be- 
tween us,  or  whatever  might  tend  to  generate  bad  blood,  or  in- 
crease the  ditlerence  already  unhappily  existing  between  them, 
unless  ordered  so  to  do.  Sir  Hudson  at  first  agreed  that  it  would 
not  be  proper  to  tell  him  any  abuse  of  himself;  but  imme- 
diately afterwards  said,  that  it  was  essential  for  me  to  repeat  it; 
that  one  of  the  7neuns  loltich  General  Bonajjurle  hud  of  escaping^ 
wu-s  vilify iiKj  him ;  that  abusiiuj  and  lessening  the  character  of  the 
ministry,  teas  an  underhand  and  a  vile  way  of  endeavoring  to 
escape  from  the  island  ;  and  therefore,  that  it  was  incuml)ent  on 
me  to  communicate  every  thing  of  the  kind  instantly.  That  as 
to  himself,  he  did  not  care  about  his  abuse,  and  would  never  be 
actuated  by  vindictive  feelings  towards  him  ;  but  that  he  wished 
to  know  every  thing:  that  nothing  ought  to  i)e  made  known  or 
eomnmnicated  in  England,  except  through  him;  and  that  he 
himself  only  communicated  with  Lord  Hathurst.  Not  perfectly 
agreeing  with  his  excellency's  sophistry,  especially  when  I  re- 
flected upon  the  conversation  which  I  had  had  with  him  under  the 
trees  at  Plantation  House  tw<j  days  after  his  last  interview  with 
Napoleon,  I  replied,  that  it  did  not  appear  that  all  the  memberj 
of  his  majesty's  government  were  of  a  similar  opinion,  as  I  had 
received  letters  from  official  persons,  with  a  re(4uest  to  com- 
municate circumstances    relative    to    Bijiiaparte,    and    returning 


1816 — OCTOBER.  91 

thanks  for  my  former  letters,  which  had  been  shown  to  some  of 
the  cabinet  ministers.  The  governor  was  excessively  uneasy  at 
this,  and  observed,  that  those  persons  had  nothing  to  do  with 
Bonaparte;  that  the  secretary  of  state,  with  whom  he  corres- 
ponded, was  the  only  one  who  ought  to  know  any  thing  about 
the  matter;  that  he  did  not  even  communicate  what  passed 
to  the  Duke  of  York.  That  none  of  the  ministers,  except  Lord 
Bathurst,  ought  to  know  what  passed ;  and  that  all  communica- 
tion, even  to  his  lordship,  ought  to  go  through  him,  and  him  only. 
His  excellency  then  observed,  that  my  correspondence  ought  to 
be  subject  to  the  same  restrictions  as  those  on  the  attendants  of 
General  Bonaparte.  I  replied,  that  if  he  was  not  satisfied  with 
the  manner  in  which  matters  stood,  I  was  ready  to  resign  the 
situation  I  held,  and  go  on  board  ship,  as  soon  as  he  liked,  as  I 
was  determined  not  to  give  up  any  of  my  rights  as  a  British 
officer.  Sir  Hudson  said,  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  this ; 
'  that  it  would  be  very  easy  to  arrange  matters ;  concluded  by 
observing  that  it  was  a  business  which  required  consideration, 
and  that  he  would  renew  the  subject  on  another  day. 

10^/i. —  Had  some  conversation  with  Napole(jn  in  his  dressing- 
room,  during  which  I  endeavored  to  convince  him  that  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe  might  in  reality  have  intended  to  offer  civilities  at 
times  when  his  conduct  was  supposed  to  be  insulting;  that  his 
gestures  sometimes  indicated  intentions  far  from  his  thoughts ; 
and  particularly  explained  to  him  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe's  having 
laid  his  hand  upon  his  sword,  proceeded  entirely  from  an  invol- 
untary habit  which  he  had  of  seizing  his  sabre,  and  raising  it  be- 
tween his  side  and  his  arm  (which  I  endeavored  to  show  him  by 
gestures)  ;  that  he  had  himself  expressed  to  me  that  none  but  a 
confirmed  villain  would  attempt  to  draw  upon  an  unarmed  man. 
'  Per  i  ragazsi,  dottore^^^  replied  Napoleon,  "se  non  e  boja,  almeno 
ne  ha  V  aria.  (For  the  ladies,  doctor,  he  is  not  an  executioner, 
at  least  he  has  not  the  appearance  of  it.)  Has  he  shown  you 
the  new  restrictions  he  has  sent  to  usf  I  replied,  that  he  had 
not  said  a  word  about  them,  "  ^A,"  answered  the  emperor, 
"  son  certo  che  abbia  qaalche  com  sinistra  in  vista.''''  (I  am  certain 
he  had  something  fatal  in  his  views.) 


ft2  A     VdIi'K    KKOM    ST.     IIKI.KNA. 

'I'his  evoiiin;;  Count  Hoitr.-iinl  ojiiiif  to  in)  room  in  ortliT  thni 
I  sljonld  assist  him  in  (ranshitin^  sonn-  pail  of  ilic  new  rcstrii* 
tions,*  whirli  wno,  lu>  said,  of  a  iialiirc  so  oiilnigoous  to  tlit- 
emporor,  (hat  \w  was  iiulucod  to  (hitti-r  himself  with  the  idea 
that  ht'  hat!  not  understood  thorn.  'J'liey  were  those  parts  wheio 
Napoleon  was  prohibited  from  going  ofl"  the  high  road  ;  froii' 
going  on  the  path  leading  to  Miss  Mason's;  from  entering  into 
any  house,  and  from  eonversing  with  any  person  whom  he  inigiit 
meet  in  his  rides  or  walks.  Prepared  as  I  was  l)y  the  governor's 
manner,  and  by  what  I  had  observed  this  day,  to  e.xpect  some- 
thing very  severe,  I  confess  that  at  the  first  sight  of  these  restric- 
tions I  remained  thunderstruck,  and  even  after  reading  them 
over  three  or  four  times  could  scarcely  persuade  myself  that  I 
had  properly  understood  them.  While  I  was  employed  in 
assisting  Count  Bertrand  in  the  translation.  Colonel  Wynyard 
knocked,  and  came  into  my  room.  When  the  Count  had  gone, 
I  told  the  Colonel  what  he  had  wanted,  and  asked  him  if  1 
was  right  in  the  construction  which  I  had  given,  which  1  ex- 
plained to  him.  Colonel  Wynyard  replied,  that  I  was  perfectly 
right. 

IIM. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  me  to  town.  Breakfasted 
in  company  with  him  at  Sir  Thomas  Reade's;  after  which,  he 
told  me  that  he  had  something  particular  to  say,  but  that  the 
place  was  not  a  proper  one,  and  another  time  would  do.  Showed 
to  him  and  to  Sir  Thomas  the  translation  which  I  had  made  of 
those  f>oints  in  the  restriction,  of  which  Count  Bertrand  had  been 
doubtful.  Sir  Hudson  observed,  that  I  had  translated  one  part 
rather  too  strongly,  viz  :  "  will  be  required  to  be  strictly  adhered 
to,"  but  that  1  had  given  a  perfectly  correct  explanation  of  the 
sense.  That  the  French  were  not  to  go  down  into  the  valley,  or 
separate  from  the  high  road,  as  space  was  given  them  to  exer- 
cise, only  to  preserve  their  health.  That  they  were  not  to  speak 
to  any  person,  or  enter  any  house;  and  that  there  needed  nc 
further  explanatiijn,  as  every  restriction  upon  General  Bonaparte 
equally  applied  to  his  followers.  He  concluded  by  observing, 
that  I  had  better  take  an  opportunity  of  telling  Bonaparte  \hat  J 

'See  Aiipeiidix,  No.  V'l. 


1816 — OCTOBER.  93 

had  heard  the  governor  say,  that  the  orders  originated  with  the 
British  government,  and  that  he  was  merely  the  person  who  car- 
ried them  into  execution,  and  not  the  framer. 

12^/i. — Napoleon,  after  asking  many  questions  concerning  a 
trial  which  took  place  yesterday,  at  which  1  had  appeared  as  an 
evidence,  spoke  about  the  new  restrictions,  and  observed  that 
Bertrand  could  not  be  brought  to  think  that  he  had  rightly  com- 
prehended them,  and  asked  me  my  opinion,  which  I  explained  to 
him  as  briefly  and  delicately  as  I  could.  When  I  had  finished, 
'■'■  Che  rahhia  di  perseciizioni,^''  ([  am  maddened  by  persecution,) 
exclaimed  Napoleon.  I  observed,  that  I  had  heard  the  governor 
say  yesterday,  that  the  orders  had  originated  with  the  British 
government,  and  that  he  was  merely  the  person  who  carried 
them  into  execution,  and  not  the  framer.  Napoleon  looked  at 
me  in  a  most  incredulous  manner,  smiled,  and  gave  me,  in  a 
good-natured  manner,  a  slap  in  the  face. 

A  quantity  of  plate  sent  to  town  to-day,  and  sold  in  the  pre- 
sence of  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  to  Mr.  Balcombe,  who  was  ordered 
by  Reade  to  pay  a  certain  sum  an  ounce  for  it,  and  the  money 
which  it  produced,  viz.  about  two  hundred  and  forty  pounds,  was 
to  lie  in  Balcombe's  hands,  and  to  be  drawn  for  in  small  sums, 
as  their  necessities  required. 

Two  letters  arrived  from  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  for  Bertrand.  I 
did  not  see  their  contents,  but  was  informed  that  one  related  to 
the  new  restrictions,  and  contained  assertions  that  but  little 
alteration  had  taken  place  in  them,  and  that  very  little  change  in 
the  limits  had  been  ordered.  The  other,  a  reprimand  to  Count 
Las  Cases  for  having  presumed  to  give  Mr.  Balcombe,  (the 
purveyor,)  an  order  on  the  count's  banker  in  London,  without 
having  first  asked  the  governor's  permission,  and  also  containing 
a  demand  for  the  price  of  the  books  sent  out  by  government  for 
General  Bonaparte's  use.  Notwithstanding  this,  it  appeared  that 
Las  Cases  had  acquainted  the  governor  with  his  intentions,  and 
obtained  his  consent,  which  his  excellency  had  forgotten,  and 
detained  Las  Cases'  order  when  presented  to  him  by  Mr.  Bal- 
combe. 

13//i. — Napoleon  in  his  bath.     Complained  of  headache,  and 


04  A    VoirK    KIU.M    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

gtiuTiil  iiiKii.sim'ss  ;  ;iii(l  was  a  litlli-  l\'vciisli.  He  railed  iigaitiHl 
thi"  isUnd,  aiul  ulist'ivcd,  ili.it  lu'  roiiKl  not  walk  jt,  wlu-ii  the 
sun  was  to  lu*  s»h'Ii,  for  liall"  an  Imiir,  wiilioul  getting  u  liradat-lu', 
in  c*>nsoqui'nct»  t>f  tlio  uaiil  uf  sliailc  "  I'cmmefite,^^  (really,) 
saitl  lu\  "it  nijuircs  gnat  ii'solulion  and  sln-n^lh  of  mind  to 
siip|H>it  siu'h  an  t'xistriu'f  as  mint'  in  this  liorrilili'  abode.  Every 
■Juy  fresh  O'ljn  ill  stilo  al  ciiore  tfa  ijiies/o  hnjn,  c/ie  ha  j)iar<'ie  a  fur 
di  timli\  (thrusts  of  the  stiletto  to  my  heart,  from  that  executioner, 
who  delights  in  doing  evil.)  It  appears  to  he  his  only  amusement. 
Daily  \\v  imagines  modes  of  annoying,  insulting,  and  making  nu^ 
undergo  fresh  privations.  lie  wants  to  shorten  my  life  by  daily 
irritations.  By  his  last  restrictions,  I  am  not  permitted  to  speak 
to  any  one  I  may  meet.  To  peo|>le  under  sentence  of  death,  tluH 
is  not  denied.  A  man  may  be  ironed,  confmed  in  a  cell,  and 
kept  on  bread  and  water,  but  the  liljerty  of  speaking  is  not  de- 
nied to  him.  It  is  a  piece  of  tyranny  unheard  of,  except  in  the 
instance  of  the  man  with  the  iron  mask.  In  the  tribunals  of  the 
incpiisition,  a  man  is  heard  in  his  own  defence;  but  1  have  been 
condemned  unheard,  and  without  trial,  in  violation  of  all  laws 
divine  and  human  ;  detained  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  in  a  time  of 
peace;  separated  from  my  wife  and  child,  vi(tleiitly  transported 
here,  where  arbitrary  and  hitherto  unknown  restrictions  are  im- 
posed upon  me;  extending  even  to  the  privation  of  speech.  I 
am  sure,"  continued  he,  "  that  none  of  the  ndnislers  except  Lord 
Bathurst,  would  give  their  consent  t(j  this  last  act  of  tyranny. 
His  great  desire  of  secrecy  shows  that  he  is  afraid  of  his  conduct 
being  made  known,  even  to  the  ministers  thein.selves.  Instead 
if  all  this  mystery  and  espionage,  they  would  do  better  to  treat 
me  in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  be  afraid  (jf  any  disclosures  being 
made.  You  recollect  what  I  said  to  you  when  this  governor  told 
me,  in  presence  of  the  admiral,  that  he  would  send  any  coniplaints 
we  had  to  make  to  England,  and  get  them  published  in  the 
journals.  You  see  now,  that  he  is  in  fear  and  trembling  lest 
Montholon's  letter  should  find  its  way  to  England,  or  be  known 
to  the  inhabitants  here.  They  profess  in  England  to  furnish  all 
my  wants,  and,  in  fact,  they  send  out  many  things  :  this  man 
then  comes  out,  reduces  every  thing,  ol)liges  me  to  sell  my  plate 


1816— OCTOBER.  96 

(n  order  to  purchase  those  necessaries  of  life  which  he  either 
denies  altcigether,  or  supplies  in  quantities  so  small  as  to  be  in- 
sufficient;  imposes  daily  new  and  arbitrary  restrictions ;  insults 
me  and  my  followers;  concludes  with  attempting  to  deny  me  the 
faculty  of  speech,  and  then  has  the  impudence  to  write,  that  he 
has  changed  nothing.  He  says,  that  if  strangers  come  to  visit 
me,  they  cannot  speak  to  any  of  my  suite,  and  wishes  that  they 
should  be  presented  by  him.  If  my  son  came  to  the  island,  and 
it  were  required  that  he  should  be  presented  by  him,  I  would  not 
see  him.  You  know,"  continued  he,  "that  it  was  more  a  trouble 
than  a  pleasure  for  me  to  receive  many  of  the  strangers  who 
arrived  ;  some  of  whom  merely  came  to  gaze  at  me,  as  they 
would  at  a  curious  beast  •  but  still  it  was  consoling  to  have  the 
right  to  see  them,  if  I  pleased." 

Examined  his  gums,  which  were  spongy,  pale,  and  bled  on  the 
slightest  touch.  Recommended  him  to  use  a  larger  quantity 
than  ordinary  of  vegetable  and  acescent  food,  an  acid  gargle, 
and  exercise. 

I'ith. — The  paper  sent  by  the  governor  to  Longwood,  contain- 
ing an  acknowledgment  from  the  French  of  their  willingness 
to  submit  to  such  restrictions  as  had,  or  might  be,  imposed  upon 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  was  signed  by  all,  and  sent  to  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe.  The  only  alteration  made  by  them,  was  the  substituting 
of  '■'■  V Einpereur  Napoleon^''  for  '■'■Napoleon  Biionuparte.'''' 

\bth. — The  papers  sent  back  by  the  governoi-  to  Count  Ber- 
trand,  with  a  demand  that  Napoleon  Buonaparte  should  be  inserted 
in  the  place  of  V Emjjereur  Naptoleoa. 

Saw  Napoleon,  who  told  me  that  he  had  advised  them  not  to 
sign  it,  but  rather  to  quit  the  island,  and  go  to  the  Cape. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  to  Longwood.  I  informed  him 
that  I  believed  the  French  would  not  sign  the  declaration  worded 
in  the  manner  he  wished.  "I  suppose,"  replied  his  excellency, 
"  that  they  are  very  glad  of  it,  as  it  will  give  them  a  pi-etext  to 
leave  General  Bonaparte,  which  I  shall  order  them  to  do."  He 
then  sent  for  Count  Bertrand,  Count  Las  Cases,  and  the  rcinuin- 
der  of  the  officers  (except  Piontkowski),  with  whom  he  had  a 
long  conversation.     At  eleven  o'cloci<  at,  night,  a  letter  was  sent 


98  A   VOICK    FROM    SI.    IIKI.KNA. 

l>v  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to  (\niiii  Hcilriiinl,  in  uliidilit'  iiiforni«'(i 
him,  that  in  oonsequtMuu'  of  tin*  ivliisal  of  tin-  Krone))  oflioors  lo 
sign  tho  dochiration  with  tho  words  Xiijuj/con  Buonaparte,  thi-y 
«nd  tho  doniostios  nui>l  all  dfpiirl  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
instatttly,  in  a  ship  whirli  wjis  ri-ady  for  their  reception,  with  the 
exoeption  of  a  cook,  niaitre  do  hotel,  and  one  or  two  of  the  valets; 
that  in  consideration  of  the  advanced  state  of  Countess  Bertrand's 
prerjnancy,  her  hnshand  would  he  pi-rinitted  to  remain  until  she 
Has  ahle  to  hear  the  voyage. 

The  prospect  of  separation  from  the  emperor  caus«-d  great 
grief  and  consternation  among  the  inmates  of  Longwood,  who, 
without  the  knowledge  of  Napoleon,  waited  upon  Captain  Pop- 
pleton  after  midnight,  and  signed  the  obno.xious  paper  (with  the 
exception  of  Santini,  who  refused  to  sign  to  any  in  which  he 
was  not  styled  VEmpenur),  which  was  transmitted  to  the  gov- 
ernor. 

16/A. — Napoleon  sent  Novarrc  for  me  at  half-past  six  in  the 
morning.  On  my  arrival,  he  looked  very  earnestly  at  me,  and 
said,  lavighing,  "  You  look  as  if  you  had  been  drunk  last  night." 
1  replied  no,  but  that  I  had  dined  at  the  camp,  and  sat  up  very 
late.  ^^  Quante  lottiplie,  tre  ?"  (liovf  many  bottles,  three  ?)  he 
added,  holding  up  three  of  his  fingers.  He  then  communicated 
the  following  to  me,  viz  :  that  Count  Bertrand  had  had  a  conver- 
sation with  the  governor  yesterday,  which  partly  related  to  him. 
That  he  had  sent  for  me,  in  order  that  I  might  explain  to  the 
governor  his  real  sentiments  on  the  subject ;  and  "  here,"  con- 
tinued he,  taking  up  a  piece  of  paper,  in  which  were  contained 
words  in  his  own  hand-writing,  of  a  meaning  similar  to  the  paper 
which  he  subsequently  gave  to  me,  "  is  what  I  have  written,  and 
which  I  intend  to  send  to  him."  He  then  read  it  aloud,  asking 
me  every  now  and  then  if  I  comprehended  him,  and  said,  "You 
will  take  a  copy  f)f  thisto  the  governor,  and  inform  him  that  such 
are  my  intentions.  If  he  asks  you  why  it  is  not  signed  by  me, 
you  will  say,  that  it  was  unnecessary,  because  I  had  read  it  out 
and  explained  it  to  you  from  my  own  hand-wiiting."  After  ob- 
serving that  the  name  of  Napoleon  was  (roppo  ben  conosciuto  (too 
well  known),  and   might  bring  back   recollections  which  it  were 


1816 — OCTOBER.  97 

better  should  be  dropped,  he  desired  me  to  propose  his  being 
called  Colonel  Meuron,  who  had  been  killed  at  his  side  at 
Areola,  or  Baron  Duroc ;  that  as  colonel  was  a  title  denoting 
military  rank,  it  might  perhaps  give  umbrage,  and  therefore 
probably  it  would  be  better  to  adopt  that  of  Baron  Duroc,  which 
was  the  lowest  feudal  title.  "  If  the  governor,"  continued  he^ 
"consents,  let  him  signify  to  Bertrand  that  he  acquiesces  in  one 
of  them,  and  such  shall  be  adopted.  It  will  prevent  many  diffi- 
culties and  sraoothen  the  way.  Your  eyes,"  continued  he,  "  look 
very  much  like  those  of  a  man  who  had  been  committing  a  de- 
bauch last  night."  I  explained  to  him  that  it  was  the  effect  of 
the  wind  and  dust.  He  then  rung  the  bell,  called  St.  Denis, 
took  the  paper  which  he  had  copied  from  him,  made  me  read  it 
aloud,  underlined  some  passages  with  his  own  hand,  gave  it  to 
me,  and  gently  pushing  me  out  of  the  room  in  a  smiling  manner, 
told  me  to  go  to  the  governor,  and  tell  him  that  such  were  his 
'utentions. 

The  paper  was  as  follows  -.* 

"  II  me  revient  que  dans  la  conversation  qui  a  eu  lieu  entre 
le  General  Lowe  et  plusieurs  de  ces  Messieurs,  il  s'est  dit  des 
choses  sur  ma  position  qui  ne  sont  pas  conformes  a  mes  pensees. 

"  J'ai  abdique  dans  les  mains  des  representans  de  la  nation  et 
au  profit  de  mon  fils ;  je  me  suis  porte  avec  confiance  en  Angle- 
terre  pour  y  vivre  la,  ou  en  Amerique,  dans  la  plus  profonde 
retraite  et  sous  le  nom  d'un  colonel  tue  a  mes  cotes,  resolu  de  resier 
etranger  a  toute  affaire  i^olitique  de  quelque  nature  qu'elle  puisse 
etre. 

"Arrive  a  bord  de  Northumberland,  on  me  dit  que  j'etai^ 
prisonnier  de  guerre,  qu'on  me  transportait  au-dela  de  la  ligne. 
et  que  je  m'appellais  le  General  Bonaparte.  Je  dus  porter 
ostensiblement  mon  titre  d'empereur  en  opposition  au  titre  de 
General  Bonaparte  qu'on  voulait  m'imposer. 

"  II  y  a  sept  ou  huit  mois,  le  Conte  de  Montholon  proposa  de 
pourvoir  a  des  petites  difficultes  qui  naissent  a  chaque  instant  en 
adoptant  un  nom  ordinaire.  L'amiral  croit  devoir  en  ecrire  k 
Londres,  cela  en  resta  la. 

*  The  traaslatiou  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  No.  VIJ. 
5 


98  A    VOICK    KUOM    sr,    IIKLKNA. 

"  On  nn"  doiilir  Jiiijoiiiiriiiii  nil  iioiii  (|iii  a  ctl  a\iiiil;i^f  iju'il 
lie  pr^jug*.'  \ms  lo  j>asM>,  niais  i|ui  n'ol  dans  la  lorim'  do  lu 
soci»'to.  Je  siiis  tniijours  (lisjiDsc  a  prendre  tin  iium  (jiii  ciitre 'lans 
Viisoife  itrtlitiairr  vl  loitiHc  (|iii'  (jiiaiul  on  jnycia  a  piopos  de 
fjiire  ctssor  co  cruel  si'jour, _;"6  .»«/.'>•  <lans  In  ro/mitv  dc  rcstrr  etran- 
ger  a  la  j>vli(iqitf  i/uclt/iie  c/iose  qui  se  passe  dans  le  inondr.  Vuila 
ma  pi'iisci,  toute  autre  rhose  qui  aurail  c'tu  iliU'  sur  crtle  i.iiir 
lioro  nr  \c  si>iail  pas," 

I  prt'i'ft'dod  iniini>diaU-]y  to  I'lanl.itlnn  lldiisc,  wlioic  I  de- 
livered thf  paper  to  the  governor,  and  nnnle  known  to  liiin  the 
conversation  whieli  1  had  had.  His  excellency  apju-ared  much 
surprised,  and  said  that  it  was  a  very  imj)ortant  coniiminication, 
and  one  which  required  consideration.  After  I  had  made  a  de- 
position, the  governor  wrote  on  a  sheet  of  paper  tiie  following 
words:  "The  govi-rnor  will  lose  no  time  in  forwarding  to  the 
British  government  the  paper  presented  to  him  this  day  hy 
Doctor  O'Meara.  IK-  tiiinks,  however,  that  it  would  be  more 
satisfactory  if  it  was  signed  liy  the  persctn  in  whose  name  it  was 
presented.  The  governor  does  not,  however,  intend  to  cast  by 
this  the  slightest  doubts  upon  the  authenticity  or  validity  of  the 
paper,  either  as  to  the  words  or  spirit,  but  merely  that  it  would 
be  better  to  send  it  in  a  form  to  which  no  oVijection  could  be 
offered.  The  governor  will  consider  attentively  whether  iho 
tenor  of  his  instructions  will  jiermit  him  to  adopt  either  of  the 
names  proposed.  He  would  naturally,  however,  be  desirous  to 
defer  the  use  of  them  in  any  pnl)lic  communication,  until  he  ob- 
tains the  sanction  of  his  government  for  that  purpose.  Th< 
governor  will  be  ready  at  any  time  to  confer  with  General  Ber 
trand  on  the  subject."  This  communication  he  desired  me  to 
«how  Na|)oleon,  and  added,  "  indeed  it  is  no  great  matter  if  yor 
leave  it  with  him."  He  then  asked  me  if  1  thought  Napoleor 
would  sign  it.  I  replied,  perhaps  he  might,  particularly  if  hd 
(Sir  Hudson)  would  authorize  him  to  use  cither  of  the  names  in 
question.  This,  however,  he  said,  he  could  not  yet  decide  upon. 
After  this,  his  excellency  told  me  that  I  must  have  n(j  com 
miinication  whatever  with  any  official  j)ersons  in  Englaiifl  about 
Bonaparte  J  therefore    lu',   insisted    that   1    would   not   mention   a 


1816 — OCTOBER,  99 

word  to  them  of  the  proposal  which  I  hud  just  made,  that  he  had 
written  to  Lord  Bathurst  altout  me,  and  that  tliere  was  no  doubt 
I  should  do  well  •,  that  my  situation  was  one  of  great  coniidence, 
and  that  none  of  the  ministers,  except  the  one  he  communicated 
with,  ought  to  know  any  thing  about  what  passed  at  St.  Helena. 
After  which  he  desired  me  to  go  back  and  endeavor  to  get  Na- 
poleon to  sign  the  paper. 

On  my  return,  1  explained  to  Napoleon  the  governor's  reply 
and  wishes.  lie  observed,  he  had  not  intended  that  the  paper 
should  be  left  with  the  governor,  but  merely  read  and  shown  to 
him,  and  then  returned,  as  had  taken  place  once  before.  That 
he  wished  to  communicate  his  sentiments  to  hin),  in  order  to 
know  if  he  were  inclined  to  meet  him  halfway.  That  after  com- 
munications with  Hertrand,  a  i)roper  letter  would  be  written,  and 
that  woiild  be  the  time  to  sign.  He  concluded  by  directing  me 
to  get  back  the  paper. 

Went  accordingly  to  Plantation  House,  and  acquainted  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  that  I  was  directed  to  bring  back  the  paper,  which, 
after  some  expression  of  surprise  on  the  part  of  the  governor,  and 
a  hint  that  such  a  demand  had  been  caused  by  shuffling  or  want 
of  sincerity  on  the  part  of  Bonaparte,  or  bad  advice  from  some 
■  )f  his  generals,  he  returned  to  me.  He  then  asked  my  opinion 
whether  "Count  Montholon  imagined  himself  secure  of  remain- 
ing in  the  island  because  he  had  signed  the  declaration'?"  He 
desired  me  to  say,  that  applying  to  the  British  government,  was 
not  asking  permission  for  General  Bonaparte  to  change  his  name, 
but  merely  a  demand  whether  they  would  recognize  such  a 
change.  Returned  the  paper  to  Napoleon,  and  explained  the 
governor's  sentiments.  He  observed,  that  if  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
irould  make  known  to  Bertrand,  or  even  to  me,  that  he  autho- 
rized the  change  of  name,  and  would  address  him  accordingly,  he 
(Napoleon)  would  write  a  letter,  declaring  that  he  would  adopt 
one  of  the  names  which  had  been  proposed,  which  he  would  sign 
and  send  to  the  governor.  "  Za  mcta  de'  disynsti  die  Ito  provato 
qui,'''*  said  he,  "  has  arisen  from  that  title."  I  observed,  that 
many  were  surprised  at  his  having  retained  the  title  after  abdica- 
*  One  half  of  the  voxiilioiiH  tluil  1  huvu  cxpcrioijeod  here." 


100  A    VohK    FIvOM    8T.    HKI.KNA. 

tioii.  Ho  ii'|tlifil,  "I  al'iliiatrtl  tin-  tlirniii'  of*  Fraiici',  liiit  i.ul 
llu'  titio  of  iinjH'ior.  I  ilo  not  call  iii)  self  Napoleon,  einj)er(»r  of 
Kraiiee,  but  tlu-  Kin|>t'ror  Napoleon.  Sovereigns  geiienillv  re- 
tain their  titles.  Thus  Charles  of  S[)ain  retains  the  tille  of  king 
:ind  niajestv.  after  having  alulicated  in  favor  of  his  son.  If  I  were 
in  Kiigland.  1  would  not  eall  myself  emperor.  But  they  want  tc 
make  it  appear  thai  the  Freneh  nation  had  not  a  right  to  make 
mc  its  sovereign.  If  they  had  not  a  right  to  make  me  emperor, 
they  were  equally  incapable  of  making  me  general.  A  man, 
when  he  is  at  the  head  of  a  few,  during  the  disturl)ances  of  a 
country,  is  called  a  chief  tif  rebels ;  but  when  he  succeeds,  cllects 
great  actions,  and  exalts  his  country  and  himself,  from  bi-ing 
styled  chief  of  rebels,  he  is  culled  general,  sovereign,  &c.  It  is 
only  success  which  makes  him  such.  Had  he  been  unfortunate, 
he  would  be  still  chief  of  rebels,  and  perhaps  perish  on  a  scan'old. 
Your  nation,"  continued  he,  "called  Washington  a  leader  of 
rebels  for  a  long  time,  and  refused  to  acknowledge  either  him  oi 
the  constitnti(jn  of  his  country  ;  but  his  successes  obliged  them 
to  change,  and  acknowledge  l)Oth.  It  is  success  which  makes  the 
great  man.  It  would  appear  truly  ridiculous  in  me,"  added  he, 
"  to  call  myself  emjieror,  situated  as  I  am  here,  and  would  re- 
mind one  of  those  poor  wretches  in  Bedlam,  in  London,  who 
fancy  themselves  kings  amidst  their  chains  and  straw,  were  it  not 
that  your  ministers  force  me  lo  it." 

He  then  spoke  in  terms  of  great  praise  of  Counts  Bertrand, 
Montholon,  Las  Cases,  and  the  rest  of  his  suite,  for  the  heroic 
devotion  which  they  had  manifested,  and  the  proofs  of  attachment 
to  his  person  which  they  had  given,  by  remaining  with  him  con- 
trary to  his  desire.  "They  had,"  continued  he,  "an  excellent 
pretext  to  go,  first,  by  refusing  to  sign  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and 
next,  because  1  ordered  them  not  to  sign.  But,  no  :  they  would 
have  signed  tiranno  Bonaparte,  (the  tyrant  Bonaparte,)  or  any 
other  opprobrious  name,  in  order  to  remain  with  me  in  misery 
here,  rather  than  return  to  Europe,  where  they  might  live  in 
splendor.  The  nxjre  your  government  tries  to  degrade  me,  so 
much  more  respect  will  they  pay  to  me.     They  pride  themscivea 


1816 — OC3TOBER.  101 

in  paying  me  more  respect  now  than  when  I  was  in  the  height  of 
my  glory." 

"  Pare^^  said  he,  then,  "  che  questo  governatore  e  stato  sempre 
spione,  (it  seems  that  that  governor  has  always  been  a  spy.)  He 
is  fit  to  be  commissary  of  police  in  a  small  town."  I  asked  him 
which  he  thought  had  been  the  best  minister  of  police,  Savary  or 
Fouch6,  adding,  that  both  of  them  had  a  bad  reputation  in 
England.  "Savary,"  said  he,  "is  not  a  bad  man;  on  the  con- 
trary,  Savary  is  a  man  of  a  good  heart,  and  a  brave  soldier. 
You  have  seen  him  weep.  He  loves  me  with  the  affection  of  a 
son.  The  English,  who  have  been  in  France,  will  soon  undeceive 
your  nation.  Fouche  is  a  miscreant  of  all  colors,  a  priest,  a  ter- 
rorist, and  one  who  took  an  active  part  in  many  bloody  scenes  in 
the  revolution.  He  is  a  man  who  can  worm  all  your  secrets  out 
of  you  with  an  air  of  calm  and  of  unconcern.  He  is  very  rich," 
added  he,  "but  his  riches  were  badly  acquired.  There  was  a  tax 
upon  gambling  houses  in  Paris,  but,  as  it  was  an  infamous  way 
of  gaining  money,  I  did  not  like  to  profit  by  it,  and  therefore 
ordered,  that  the  amount  of  the  tax  should  be  appropriated  to  an 
hospital  for  the  poor.  It  amounted  to  some  millions,  but  Fouche, 
who  had  the  collecting  of  the  impost,  put  many  of  them  into  his 
own  pockets,  and  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  discover  the  real 
yearly  sum  total." 

I  observed  to  him,  that  it  had  excited  considerable  surprise, 
that  during  the  height  of  his  glory,  he  had  never  given  a  dukedom 
in  France  to  any  person,  although  he  had  created  many  dukes 
and  princes  elsewhere.  He  replied,  "  because  it  would  have  pro- 
duced great  discontent  amongst  the  people.  If,  for  example,  1 
had  made  one  of  my  marshals  Duke  of  Bourgogne,  instead  of 
giving  him  a  title  derived  from  one  of  my  victories,  it  would 
have  excited  great  alarm  in  Bourgogne,  as  they  would  have  con- 
ceived that  some  feodal  rights  and  territory  were  attached  to  the 
title,  which  the  duke  would  claim  ;  and  the  nation  hated  the  old 
nobility  so  much,  that  the  creation  of  any  rank  resembling  them 
would  have  given  universal  discontent,  which  I,  powerful  as  I 
was,  dared  not  venture  upon.  I  instituted  the  new  nobility  to 
6craser  the  old,  and  to  satisfy  the  people,  as  the  greatest  pa^t  cf 


108  A    VOK'K    FKOM    .<T.    IIKI.KNA. 

lh.»»'  I  riiHlrtl  li;ul  >^jiriinu  froiu  tlii'iiistlvrs,  and  v\vv\  piivalf 
soldirr  had  u  riglit  t<>  look  ii|»  to  tlio  title  of  duke.  1  hilieve 
that  I  acted  wrong  in  doing  even  this,  as  it  l»-ssened  that  system 
of  etiualit)  whieh  pleased  the  people  so  nuuh  ;  Imt,  if  1  h.-id  ereat- 
od  dukes  with  a  Freneh  title,  it  W(»u]d  have  been  considered  as  ii 
revival  of  the  old  feodal  privileges,  with  whieh  the  nation  had 
been  cursed  so  long." 

His  gums  were  in  nearly  the  same  state  as  before;  eomplaintd 
of  his  general  health,  and  added,  that  he  felt  convinced  that  he 
could  nut  last  long,  under  all  the  circumstanecs.  I  aavised,  a.-^ 
remedies,  e.xereise  and  the  diet  1  had  formerly  recommended. 
He  observed,  that  he  had  jiut  in  practice  the  diet  and  the  oth«r 
remedies,  but  as  to  taking  exercise  (which  was  the  most  essential) 
the  restrictions  presented  an  insurmounlaMe  obstacle.  He  asked 
many  anatomical  questions,  particularly  about  the  heart,  and  ob- 
served, Credo  chc  il  nuu  cuore  non  batte  moi,  non  Vho  centito  inai 
battersi*  He  then  desired  me  to  feel  his  heart.  I  tried  for 
some  time,  but  could  not  feel  any  pulsation,  which  I  attributed 
to  obesity.  I  had  before  observed,  that  the  circulation  in  him 
was  very  slow,  rarely  exceeding  fifty-eight  or  sixty  in  a  minute, 
and  most  frequently  fifty-four. 

\Wi. — Captain  Poinlkowski,  Rousseau,  Santini,  and  Archam- 
baud,  cadet,  were  the  persons  named  hy  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to  be 
removed  from  Longwood.  Count  Montholon  desired  me  to  in- 
form the  governor,  that  the  emperor  did  not  wish  to  separate  the 
brothers  Archambaud,  which  moreover  would  totally  disorganize 
the  carriage,  and  must  consequently  deprive  the  emperor  of  the 
little  means  he  had  of  taking  exercise,  as  the  governor  was  aware, 
that  in  such  a  place  as  St.  Helena,  where  the  roads  were  so 
dangerous,  it  was  very  necessary  to  have  careful  drivers.  He 
added,  that  if  the  choice  were  left  to  Napoleon,  of  those  who 
were  to  go,  he  would  fix  upon  Rousseau,  Santini,  and  Bernard, 
"vho  was  a  useless  subject,  and  much  given  to  intoxication,  or 
^entilini,  as  he  thought  that  it  would  be  a  great  piece  of  cruelty 
to  separate  two  brothers. 

Communicated  this  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  replied,  that  the 

*  ''  I  Ihink  that  my  heart  doen  not  beat ;  I  have  never  felt  it  po'iBate." 


1816 — OCTOBER.  108 

choice  was  not  left  to  General  Buiiaparte ;  that  the  servants  weie 
to  be  taken  tVoni  Longwood,  and  not  from  Count  Bertrand ;  and 
moreover,  that  the  orders  were  to  send  away  Frenchmen^  and  not 
natives  of  other  cc  untries.  That  Bernard  was  a  Flainand,  and 
Gentilini  an  Italian,  and,  therefore  did  not  come  within  the  strict 
application  of  his  orders,  and  that  if  Santini  had  not  refused  to 
sign  the  paper,  he  would  not  have  accepted  of  him  as  one,  as  he 
was  a  Corsican,  and  not  a  Frenchman.  He  had  no  objection, 
however,  that  all  the  Frenchmen  in  General  Bonaparte's  service 
should  draw  lots.  These  circumstances  he  desired  I  might  im- 
press upon  General  Bonaparte's  mind.  He  added,  that,  as  the 
choice  was  left  to  him,  by  his  instructions,  he  would  give  written 
directions  to  Captain  P(jppleton  to  send  away  Piontkowski,  and 
both  of  the  Archambauds,  if  Rousseau  remained,  or  one  of  them, 
if  Rousseau  were  to  go.  He  then  directed  me  to  ask  if  he  were 
to  expect  any  further  communication  respecting  the  change  of 
name,  as  the  vessel  containing  his  dispatches  on  the  subject 
would  sail  for  England  in  the  evening.* 

On  my  return  to  Longwood,  communicated  this  to  Napoleon  ; 
who  replied,  "  Has  the  governor  it  in  his  power  to  authorize  the 
change  ?  in  the  note  he  sent,  the  contrary  appears."  I  answered, 
that  I  knew  nothing  more  than  what  I  had  already  communicated. 
"Then,"  said  he.  "before  any  further  steps  are  taken,  let  him 
reply  positively  whether  he  is  authorized  or  not,  Si  o  no,^''  (yes 
or  no.)  Informed  him  of  his  excellency's  opinion  and  decision  rela- 
tive to  the  domestics  who  were  to  leave  St.  Helena.  "  Santini 
not  a  Frenchman?"  said  he,  "Doctor,  you  cannot  be  imbecile 
enough  not  to  see  that  this  is  a  pretext  to  convey  an  insult  to 
me.  All  Corsicans  are  Frenchmen.  By  taking  away  my  drivers, 
he  wants  to  prevent  me  from  taking  a  little  carriage-exercise." 

*  The  only  reply  which  His  Majesty's  ministers  condescended  to  make  to  thii 
proposp,]  was  contained  in  a  scurrilous  article  in  the  Quarterly  Review,  No.  XXXII, 
which  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  took  care  should  be  sent  to  Longwood  as  soon  as  a  copy 
had  reached  the  island.  I  think  that  I  am  justified  in  attributing  the  articles 
alluded  to,  to  some  ministerial  person,  as  the  transaction  was  known  only  to  of- 
'Icers  in  their  employment,  and  to  the  establishment  at  Longwood,  and  it  ia 
evident  that  the  persons  composing  the  latter,  could  not  have  been  the  authoni 
jf  it. 


104  A    VOICK    FHOM    ST.    HKI.ENA. 

I9th. — Piontkowski,  Santini,  Koussoiiii,  mid  Archatnbaud  the 
younger,  sent  by  ordor  of  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to  town  in  ordor  to 
embark.  Santini  had  a  pension  of  fifty  pounds,  Archani])aud  and 
Rousseau  twenty  livi'  each,  annually,  settled  upon  theni ;  Piont- 
kowski  had  also  a  pension  and  a  letter  of  recoriiinendation.  On 
embarkation,  their  persons  and  baggage  were  searched  by  Captain 
Maunsell,  and  the  provost  Serjeant.  They  sailed  in  the  evening 
for  the  Cape.  Piontkowski  was  stripped  to  the  skin  by  Captain 
Maunsell. 

Communicated  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  Napoleon's  last  expres- 
sions concerning  the  change  of  name,  who  replied,  "  I  believe 
that  it  is  in  my  power  to  approve  of  it."  I  then  recommended 
him  to  see  Count  Bert  rand  upon  the  subject,  and  his  excellency 
proceeded  to  Hut's  Gate  accordingly. 

'20/A.  — Count  and  Countess  Bertrand  and  family  moved  from 
Hut's  Gate  to  Long  wood. 

21s/. — Dined  at  Plantation  House  in  company  with  the  Rus- 
sian and  Austrian  Commissioners,  the  botanist,  and  Captain  Gor. 
They  generally  expressed  great  dissatisfaction  at  not  having  yet 
seen  Napoleon.  Count  Balniaine  in  particular  observed  that 
they  (the  commissioners)  appeared  to  be  objects  of  suspicion  ; 
that  had  he  been  aware  of  the  manner  in  which  they  would  have 
been  treated,  he  would  not  have  come  out.  That  the  emperor 
Alexander  had  great  interest  in  preventing  the  escape  of  Napo- 
leon, but  that  he  wished  him  to  be  well  treated,  and  with  that 
respect  due  to  him  ;  for  which  reason  he  (Count  Balmaine)  had 
only  asked  to  see  him  as  a  private  person,  and  not  officially  as 
commissioner.  That  they  should  be  objects  of  ridicule  in  Europe, 
as  soon  as  it  was  known  they  had  been  so  many  months  in  St. 
Helena  without  ever  once  seeing  the  individual,  to  ascertain 
whose  presence  was  the  sole  object  of  their  mission.  That  the 
governor  always  replied  to  their  questions  that  Bonaparte  had 
refused  to  receive  any  person  whatsoever.  The  botanist  held 
language  of  a  similar  tendency,  and  remarked,  that  Longwood 
was  "  fe  dernier  sejour  du  monde,^^*  and  in  his  opinion  tb«  worst 
part  of  the  island. 

•  "  The  worst  abode  in  the  world." 


1816 — OCTOBER.  106 

22nd. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  me,  and  observed  that  the 
commissioners  seemed  to  have  paid  me  much  attention;  that  he 
should  think  nothing  of  their  speaking,  as  long  as  they  had  done 
to  me,  to  any  other  person,  but  that  it  had  an  appearance  as  if 
they  wished  something  to  be  conveyed  to  General  Bonaparte, 
and  advised  me  to  be  very  cautious  in  my  conversation  with 
them.  He  also  informed  me  that  Count  Bertrand  had  confirmed 
to  him  every  communication  that  I  had  made  relative  to  the 
change  of  name. 

2Srd. — Napoleon  indisposed  :  one  of  his  cheeks  considerably 
tumefied.  Recommended  fomentation  and  steaming  the  part 
aftected,  which  he  put  in  practice.  Recommended  also  ohe  ex- 
traction of  a  carious  tooth,  and  renewed  the  advice  I  had  given 
on  many  previous  occasions,  particularly  relative  to  exercise,  as 
soon  as  the  reduction  of  the  swelling  permitted  it;  also  a  con- 
tinuance of  diet,  chiefly  vegetable,  with  fruits. 

"  There  is  either  a  furious  wind,"  replied  he,  "  with  fog,  which 
gives  me  a  swelled  face  when  I  go  out,  or  when  that  is  wanting, 
there  is  a  sun  which  scorches  my  brains  (c'  e  un  sole  che  mi  bru- 
cia  il  cervello)  for  want  of  shade.  They  continue  me  purposely 
in  the  worst  part  of  the  island.  When  I  was  at  the  Briars,  I 
had  at  least  the  advantage  of  a  shady  walk  and  a  mild  climate ; 
mais  ici  on  arrivera  au  biit  qu'' on  se  propose  plus  vite,''^  (I  shall 
sooner  arrive  at  the  end  they  propose),  continued  he.  "  Have 
you  seen  lo  sbirro  Siciliano  V  I  replied  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
had  informed  me  that  he  had  written  to  England  an  account  of 
his  proposal  to  assume  an  incognito  name.  "  Non  dice  altro  che 
buffie,''^  (he  speaks  nothing  but  lies),  said  Napoleon.  "It  is  his 
system.  Lying,"  added  he,  "  is  not  a  national  vice  of  the  Eng- 
lish, but  this  *  *  *  *  has  all  the  vices  of  the  little  petty  states 
of  Italy." 

Desired  me  to  endeavor  to  get  him  tm  fauieuil  de  malade  (an 
easy  chair),  which  I  communicated  to  the  governor,  who  returned 
for  answer  that  he  would  order  one  to  be  made,  as  no  such  arti- 
cle was  to  be  found  upon  the  island. 

26^A. — Napoleon  out  in  the  carriage  for  the  first  time  for  a 
considerable  period.     Observed   to   me  afterwards  that  he  had 


106  A    VOU'K    FROM    SI'.    IIKLKNA. 

followiil  my  prosoription.  Ilis  face  rniu-li  l)ottor.  The  dtnUa 
sapieutia  vf  tlio  ujii'ir  jaw  nv»t»'  Idosi-  and  carious.  Asked  if 
lluTO  was  jiiiy  nows  ?  I  rt>j>lii«l  that  wo  wiTf  in  daily  oxpecta- 
lion  vf  hoaring  the  result  of  Lord  Exniduth's  expedition,  and 
asked  his  opinion  relative  to  the  prohahiiity  of  suceess.  He 
replied  that  he  thought  it  would  suceeed,  espeeially  if  the  fleet 
look  and  destroyed  as  many  of  their  vessels  as  they  could,  then 
anchored  opposite  the  town,  and  did  not  allow  a  single  ship  or 
vessel,  not  even  a  fisliing-lioat,  to  enter  or  go  out.  "Continue 
that  for  a  short  time,"  added  he,  "  and  the  dey  will  sul)mit,  or 
else  the  canaille  will  revolt  and  murder  him,  and  afterwards 
agree  to  any  terms  you  like.  But  no  treaty  will  be  kept  by 
\hem.  It  is  a  disgrace  to  the  powers  of  Eurc^pe  to  allow  so 
many  nests  of  robbers  to  exist.  Even  the  Neapolitans  could 
put  a  stop  to  it,  instead  of  allowing  themselves  to  be  robbed. 
Tliey  have  upwards  of  fifty  thousand  seamen  in  the  kingdom  of 
Naples  and  Sicily,  and  with  their  navy,  they  might  easily  pre- 
vent a  single  Barbary  ship  from  stirring  out."  I  observed  that 
the  Neapolitans  were  so  great  cowards  at  sea,  that  the  Algerines 
had  the  utmost  contempt  for  them.  "They  are  cowards  by  land 
as  well  as  by  sea,"  replied  the  emperor,  "but  that  might  be 
remedied  by  proper  officers  and  discipline.  At  Amiens,  I  pro- 
posed to  your  government  to  unite  with  me,  either  to  entirely 
destroy  those  nests  of  pirates,  or  at  least  to  destroy  their  ships, 
fortresses,  and  make  them  cultivate  their  country,  and  aliandon 
piracy.  But  your  ministers  would  not  consent  to  it,  owing  to  a 
mean  jealo\isy  of  the  Americans,  with  whom  the  barbarians  were 
at  war.  I  wanted  to  annihilate  them,  though  it  did  not  concern 
ine  much,  as  they  generally  respected  my  flag,  and  carried  on  a 
large  trade  with  Marseilles."  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  it  would 
be  advisable  for  Lord  Exmouth  to  disembark  his  marines  and 
seamen,  and  attack  the  town  of  Algiers.  "  Oh  que  yio?j,"  (O  no,) 
replied  he,  "if  he  has  l)Ut  a  small  force,  he  will  get  half  his  men 
killed  by  the  caiiat/lie  (mob)  in  the  hr)uses  and  l>atleries;  and  it 
is  not  worth  sending  a  large  one,  unless  you  are  determined  to 
destroy  their  power  altogether." 

After  this,  the  conversation  turned  upon  the  national  debt  and 


1816— OCTOBER.  l07 

the  great  weight  of  taxes  in  England.  Napoleon  professed  him- 
self doubtful  that  the  English  could  now  continue  to  manufacture 
goods  so  as  to  be  able  to  sell  them  at  the  same  price  as  those 
made  in  France,  in  consequence  of  the  actual  necessaries  of  life 
being  so  much  dearer  in  England  than  in  France.  He  professed 
his  disbelief  that  the  nation  could  support  the  immen^e  weight 
of  taxes,  the  dearness  of  provisions,  and  the  extravagance  of  a 
bad  administration.  "When  I  was  in  France,"'  continued  he, 
"with  four  times  the  extent  of  territory,  and  four  times  the 
population,  I  never  could  have  raised  one  half  of  your  taxes. 
How  the  English  popolazzo  bear  it,  I  cannot  conceive.  The 
French  would  not  have  suffered  one-fourth  of  them.  Notwith- 
standing your  great  successes,"  continued  he,  "  which  are  indeed 
almost  incredible,  and  to  which  accident,  and  perhaps  destiny, 
have  much  contributed,  I  do  not  think  that  you  are  yet  out  of 
the  scrape  :  though  you  have  the  world  at  command,  I  do  not 
believe  that  you  will  ever  be  able  to  get  over  your  debt.  Your 
great  connmerce  has  kept  you  up ;  but  that  will  fail,  when  you 
will  no  longer  be  able  to  undersell  the  manufacturers  of  other 
nations,  who  are  rapidly  improving.  A  few  years  will  tell  if  I 
am  right.  The  worst  thing  England  has  ever  done,"  ccjntinued 
he,  "  was  that  of  endeavoring  to  make  herself  a  great  military 
nation.  In  attempting  that,  England  must  always  be  the  sla'^i 
of  Russia,  Austria,  or  Prussia,  or  at  least  subserviei>t  to  somj 
of  them  ;  because  you  have  not  a  population  sufficiently  m;- 
merous  to  combat  on  the  continent  with  France,  or  with  any  of 
the  powers  I  have  named,  and  must  consequently  hire  men  from 
some  of  them.;  whereas,  at  sea,  you  are  so  superior  ;  your  sailors 
are  so  much  better,  that  you  can  always  command  the  others 
with  safety  to  yourselves  and  with  little  comparative  expense 
Your  soldiers  have  not  the  requisite  qualities  for  a  military  na 
tion.  They  are  not  equal  in  address,  activity,  or  intelligence  to 
the  French.  When  they  get  from  under  the  fear  of  the  lash, 
they  obey  nobody.  In  a  retreat  they  cannot  be  managed  ;  and 
if  they  meet  with  wine,  they  are  so  many  devils,  [(anti  diavoli) 
and  adieu  to  subordination.  I  saw  the  retreat  of  Moore,  and  J 
never  witnessed  anything  like  it.     It  was  impossible  to  collect  3j 


108  A   VOICE    KKOM    ST.    HELENA, 

to  make  them  do  anything.  Noarlv  all  wi-ie  drunk.  Your  uffi. 
oei>  depend  uptm  interest  or  money  for  promotion.  Your  soldiora 
are  brave,  nobody  ean  deny  it ;  but  it  was  bad  policy  to  encou- 
rage the  military  mania,  instead  of  sticking  to  your  marine,  which 
is  the  real  force  of  your  country,  and  one  which,  while  you  pre- 
serve it,  will  always  render  you  powerful.  In  order  to  have 
good  soldiers,  a  nation  must  always  be  at  wary 

"  If  you  had  lost  the  battle  of  Waterloo,"  continued  he,  "  wha* 
a  state  would  England  have  been  in  !  The  flower  of  your  youth 
would  have  been  destroyed  ;  for  not  a  man,  not  even  Lord  Wel- 
lington, would  have  escaped."  I  observed  here  that  Lord  Wel- 
lington had  determined  never  to  leave  the  field  alive.  Napoleon 
replied,  "he  could  not  retreat.  He  would  have  been  destroyed 
with  his  army,  if,  instead  of  the  Prussians,  Grouchy  had  come 
up."  I  asked  him  if  he  had  not  believed  for  some  time  that  the 
Prussians  who  had  shown  themselves,  were  a  part  of  Grouchy's 
corps.  He  replied,  "certainly;  and  I  can  now  scarcely  compre- 
hend why  it  was  a  Prussian  division  and  not  that  of  Grouchy." 
I  then  took  the  liberty  of  asking  whether,  if  neither  Grouchy  nor 
the  Prussians  had  arrived,  it  would  not  have  been  a  drawn  battle. 
Napoleon  answered,  "  the  English  army  would  have  been  de- 
stroyed. They  were  defeated  at  midday.  But  accident,  or  more 
likely  destiny,  decided  that  Lord  Wellington  should  gain  it.  I 
could  sc  rcely  believe  that  he  would  have  given  me  battle;  be- 
cause if  he  had  retreated  to  Antwerp,  as  he  ought  to  have  done, 
1  must  have  been  overwhelmed  by  the  armies  of  three  or  four 
Hundred  thousand  men  that  were  coming  against  me.  By  giving 
me  battle,  there  was  a  chance  for  me.  It  was  the  greatest  folly 
lO  disunite  the  English  and  Prussian  armies.  They  ought  to 
have  been  united  ;  and  I  cannot  conceive  the  reason  of  theii 
separation.  It  was  folly  in  Wellington  to  give  me  battle  in  a 
place,  where,  if  defeated,  all  must  have  been  lost,  for  he  could 
not  retreat.  There  was  a  wood  in  his  rear,  and  but  one  road  to 
gain  it.  He  would  have  been  destroyed.  Moreover,  he  allowed 
himself  to  be  surprised  by  me.  This  was  a  great  fault.  He 
ought  to  have  been  encamped  from  the  beginning  of  June,  as  he 
must  have  known  that  I  intended  to  attack  him.     He  might  have 


1816— OCTOBER.  109 

lost  everything.  But  he  has  been  fortunate:  his  destiny  has 
prevailed  ;  and  everything  he  did  will  meet  with  applause.  My 
intentions  were  to  attack  and  to  destroy  the  English  army.  This 
I  knew  would  produce  an  immediate  change  of  ministry.  The 
indignation  against  them  for  having  caused  the  loss  of  forty 
thousand  of  the  flower  of  the  English  army,  would  have  excited 
such  a  popular  commotion,  that  they  would  have  been  turned 
out.  The  people  would  have  said.  What  is  it  to  us  who  is  on  the 
throne  of  France,  Louis  or  Napoleon  ;  are  we  to  sacrifice  ail  our 
blood  in  endeavors  to  place  on  the  throne  a  detested  family? 
No,  we  have  suffered  enough.  It  is  no  affair  of  ours, — let  them 
settle  it  amongst  themselves.  They  would  have  made  peace. 
The  Saxons,  Bavarians,  Belgians,  Wirtemburghers,  would  have 
joined  me.  The  coalition  was  nothing,  without  England.  The 
Russians  would  have  made  peace,  and  I  should  have  been  quietly 
seated  on  the  throne.  Peace  would  have  been  permanent,  as 
what  could  France  do  after  the  treaty  of  Paris  ?  What  was  to 
be  feared  from  her  V 

"  These,"  continued  he,  "  were  my  reasons  for  attacking  the 
English.  I  had  beaten  the  Prussians.  Before  twelve  o'clock,  I 
had  succeeded.  Every  thing  was  mine,  I  may  say,  but  accident 
and  destiny  decided  it  otherwise.  The  English  fought  most 
bravely  doubtless,  nobody  can  deny  it.  But  they  must  have 
been  destroyed." 

"  Pitt  and  his  politics,"  continued  he,  "  nearly  ruined  England 
by  keeping  up  a  continual  war  with  France."  I  remarked,  that 
it  was  asserted  by  many  able  politicians  in  England,  that  if  we 
had  not  carried  on  that  war  we  should  have  been  ruined,  and 
ultimately  have  become  a  province  of  France.  "  It  is  not  true," 
said  Napoleon.  "  England  being  at  war  with  France,  gave  the 
latter  a  pretence  and  an  opportunity  of  extending  her  conquests 
to  the  length  she  did  under  me,  until  I  became  emperor  of  nearly 
all  the  world,  which  could  not  have  happened,  if  there  had  been 
no  war."  The  conversation  then  turned  upon  the  occupation  of 
Malta.  "  Two  days,"  said  he,  "  before  Lord  Whitworth  left 
Paris,  an  offer  was  made  to  the  minister  and  to  others  about  mo 
of  thirty  millions  of  francs,  and   to  acknowledge  me  as  king  of 


110  A   VOICK    FI{()M    ST     HKI.KNA. 

FruiK'o,  prcvuK'il  I  woiiUl  yivi"  _\  on  up  Malta." — NnptiK'nii  atldcil, 
howi'ViT,  tliat  tho  war  wmiM  liavf  Inukcii  out,  had  Malta  Immii 
out  of  thi>  question.  Soriu'  coiivt'isalion  tlifii  took  place  rolativti 
to  English  soainiMi.  Najioleon  ohserved  that  the  English  scaiuon 
wtTf  as  iniu'h  superior  to  the  French,  as  the  latter  were  to  the 
Spaniards.  I  ventured  to  say  that  I  thought  the  French  would 
never  make  good  seanien,  on  account  of  their  volatility  of  temper 
and  impatience.  TIjat  especially  they  woidd  never  submit  without 
complaining,  to  hli>ckade  ports  for  years  together,  sullering  from 
the  combined  effects  of  bad  weather,  and  of  privation  of  every  kind, 
as  we  had  done  at  Toulon.  "  I  do  not  agree  with  you  there,  Sigiior 
dottore,'''  (Doctor,)  said  he,  "but  I  do  not  think  that  they  will 
ever  make  as  good  seamen  as  yours.  The  sea  is  yours — your 
seamen  are  as  much  superior  to  ours  as  the  Dutch  were  once  to 
yours.  I  think,  however,  that  the  Americans  are  better  seamen 
than  yours,  l)ecause  they  are  less  numerous."  I  observed,  that 
the  Americans  had  a  considerable  number  of  English  seamen  in 
their  service,  who  passed  for  Americans,  which  was  remarkable, 
as  independent  of  other  circumstances,  the  American  discipline 
on  board  of  men-of-war  was  much  more  severe  than  ours.  And, 
that  if  the  Americans  had  a  large  navy,  they  would  find  it  im- 
possible to  have  so  many  able  seamen  in  each  ship  as  they  had 
at  present.  When  I  observed,  that  the  American  discipline  was 
more  severe  than  ours,  he  smiled  and  said,  "  sarebhe  difficile  n 
credere.''''  (1  can  scarcely  believe  it.) 

Five,  P.  M. — Napolen  sent  for  me.  Found  him  sitting  in  a 
chair  opposite  to  the  fire.  He  had  gone  out  to  walk,  and  was 
seized  w  ith  rigors,  headache,  severe  cough.  Examined  his  tonsils, 
which  were  swelled.  Cheek  inflamed.  Had  severest  rigors  while 
I  was  present,  "t/e  tremble,^''  said  he  to  Count  T.,as  Cases,  who 
was  present,  '■'•  comme  si  feusse  peury  (1  tremble,  as  if  1  were 
afraid.)  Pulse  much  quickened.  Recommended  warm  fomenta 
tions  to  his  cheek,  a  liniment  to  his  throat,  warm  diluents,  a  gar- 
garism,  pediluvium,  and  total  abstinence;  all  of  which  he  ap- 
proved of  except  the  liniment.  Tic  asked  a  great  many  questions 
about  fever. 

Saw  hira  again  at  nine  in  bed.     lie  had  strictly  complied  with 


1816 — OCTOBER.  1  1  1 

my  directions ;  I  was  desirous  that  he  should  take  a  diaphoretic, 
but  he  preferred  trusting  to  his  warm  diluents.  He  imputed  his 
complaint  to  the  ventaccio*  eternally  blowing  over  the  bleak  and 
exposed  site  of  Longwood.  "  I  ought,"  said  he,  "  to  be  at  the 
Briars,  or  at  the  other  side  of  the  island,  instead  of  being  on  this 
horrid  spot.  While  I  was  there  last  year  at  this  season,  I  was 
very  well."  He  asked  what  I  thought  was  the  easiest  mode  of 
dying,  and  observed  that  death  by  cold  was  the  easiest  of  all 
others,  because  "  s^  muore  dormiendo^'''  (one  dies  sleeping.) 

Sent  a  letter  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  acquainting  him  with  Na- 
poleon's illness. 

21th. — A  free  perspiration  took  place  in  the  night,  and  Na- 
poleon was  considerably  better.  Recommended  a  continuance 
of  the  means  he  had  adopted,  and  not  to  expose  himself  to  the 
wind.  He  made  nearly  the  same  observations  relative  to  the 
exposed  and  unhealthy  situation  of  Longwood,  as  he  had  done 
yesterday,  adding,  that  it  was  so  bleak  a  spot  that  scarcely  any 
vegetable  would  grow  upon  it. 

Had  some  conversation  with  him  relative  to  the  Empress 
Josephine,  of  whom  he  spoke  in  terms  the  most  affectionate. 
His  first  acquaintance  with  that  amiable  being  commenced  after 
the  disarming  of  the  sections  in  Paris,  subsequently  to  the  13th 
of  Vendemiaire,  1795.  "  A  boy  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years  old 
presented  himself  to  me,"  continued  he,  "  and  entreated  that  his 
father's  sword,  (who  had  been  a  general  of  the  republic,)  should 
be  returned.  I  was  so  touched  by  this  affectionate  request,  that 
i  ordered  it  to  be  given  to  him.  This  boy  was  Eugene  Beau- 
fiarnois.  On  seeing  the  sword,  he  burst  into  tears.  I  felt  so 
much  affected  by  his  conduct,  that  I  noticed  and  praised  him 
much.  A  few  days  afterwards,  his  mother  came  to  return  me  a 
visit  of  thanks.  I  was  much  struck  with  her  appearance,  and 
still  more  with  her  esjyrif.  This  first  impression  was  daily 
strengthened,  and  marriage  was  not  long  in  following." 

Saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe.  Informed  him  of  Napoleon's  state  of 
health,  and  that  he  had  attributed  his  complaints  to  the  violence 
of  the  wind,  and  the  bleak  and  exposed  situation  of  Longwood; 

*   Vtntaccio  is  a  provincial  word,  wliich  inciins  a  nasty  or  acrid  wiud. 


11*2  A    VOICK    FROM    SI'.    IlKLENA. 

»1m»  ihjit  lu'  liHii  I'Xj'ii'ssi'il  a  liosiro  to  1k'  ii'inovftl  t-illu'r  to  the 
Briars,  or  to  tlu*  olhor  side  of  tlie  island.  His  excelK'Ucy  re- 
plied, "Tlu"  fai't  is,  that  Gonoral  Hoiiaparto  want.s  to  get  Piaiita- 
ti«>n  IIoiiso;  luit  thf  East  India  C'omjtany  will  not  consent  to 
have  so  fine  a  plantation  given  to  a  set  of  Fn-nclinien,  to  destroy 
the  trees  and  rnin  the  gardens." 

Etqht,  P.  M. — Napoleon  not  so  well  ;  rii^ht  jaw  niiicli  tinnefied, 
with  diflionlty  of  swallowing,  cau.-;ed  by  the  inllaniinalion  of  the 
tonsils,  «^o.  He  would  not  consent  to  use  any  thing  except 
diluents  and  fomentations;  recommended  a  purgative  to  be  taken 
in  the  morning,  and  also  some  other  active  remedies,  which  he 
declined  doing,  observing  that  he  had  never  taken  any  medicine 
since  his  childhood  ;  that  he  knew  his  own  constitution,  and  was 
convinced  that  even  a  very  small  dose  would  produce  violent 
effects  ;  that,  moreover,  perhaps  its  effects  would  be  contrary  to 
the  efforts  of  nature.     That  he  would  trust  to  diet,  diluents,  &c. 

29M. — Napoleon  rather  better.  Told  him  that  if  he  were 
attacked  by  any  of  the  diseases  of  the  climate,  he  would,  in  all 
probability,  be  a  dead  man  in  a  few  days,  as  the  means  which  he 
was  willing  to  put  in  execution,  were  totally  inadequate  to  sub- 
due a  formidable  complaint,  though  they  might  be  sufficient  to 
relieve  the  trifling  one  under  which  he  had  labored.  Notwith- 
standing all  the  reasoning  and  the  representations  which  I  made 
to  him,  he  appeared  to  think  that  it  was  better  to  do  nothing 
than  to  take  medicines,  which  he  was  of  opinion  were  dangerous, 
or  at  least  doubtful,  as  they  might  disturb  the  operations  of 
nature. 

'iOth. — Napoleon  consented  to  make  use  of  a  gargle  of  infusion 
of  roses  and  sul{)huric  acid.  There  were  many  vesicles  on  the 
inside  of  his  cheek  and  gums.  He  inveighed  against  the  clima 
barbara  (the  barbarous  climate)  of  Longwood,  and  again  men- 
tioned  the  Briars.* 

Infoimed  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  of  the  state  of  his  hcaltii,  and  of 
his  des-re  to  be  removed  to  the  Briars.  His  excellency  replied, 
that  if  General  Bonaparte  wanted  to  make  himself  comfortable, 
and  to  get  reconciled  to  the  island,  he  ought  to  draw  for  some  of 

*  The  Briars  ib  near  two  miles  distant  from  the  sea-shorr. 


181« — NOVEMBER,  113 

those  largo  sums  of  money  which  he  possessed,  and  lay  it  out  in 
purchasing  a  house  and  grounds.  I  said  that  Napoleon  had  told 
me  he  did  not  know  where  his  money  was  placed.  Sir  Hudson 
replied,  "  I  suppose  he  told  you  that,  in  order  that  you  might 
repeat  it  to  me." 

November  \st. — Napoleon  better.  Some  tumefaction  of  the 
legs,  and  enlargement  of  the  glands  of  the  thigh.  Recommended 
him  to  take  some  sulphate  of  magnesia,  or  Glauber's  salts. 
Another  portion  of  plate  broken  up,  in  order  to  be  sent  to  town 
for  sale, 

'2,nd. — Nearly  the  same.  Recommended  him,  in  the  strongest 
terms,  to  take  exercise  as  soon  as  the  state  of  his  cheeks,  and  of 
the  weather,  would  admit  of  its  being  put  in  practice ;  and  gave 
it  as  my  firm  and  decided  opinion,  that  unless  he  put  this  advice 
in  practice,  he  would  be  infallibly  attacked  by  some  very  serious 
complaint. 

During  the  conversation,  1  took  the  liberty  of  asking  the  em- 
peror his  reasons  for  having  encouraged  the  Jews  so  much.  He 
replied  :  "  I  wanted  to  make  them  leave  off  usury,  and  become 
like  other  men.  There  were  a  great  many  Jews  in  the  countries 
I  reigned  over  :  by  removing  their  disabilities,  and  by  putting 
them  upon  an  equality  with  Catholics,  Protestants,  and  others,  I 
hoped  to  make  them  become  good  citizens,  and  conduct  them 
selves  like  others  of  the  community.  I  believe  that  I  should 
have  succeeded  in  the  end.  My  reasoning  with  them  was,  that 
as  their  rabbins  explained  to  them,  that  they  ought  not  to  practice 
usury  to  their  own  tribes,  but  were  allowed  to  do  so  with  Chris- 
tians and  others,  that,  therefore,  as  I  had  restored  them  to  all 
their  privileges,  and  made  them  equal  to  my  other  subjects,  they 
must  consider  me  to  be  the  head  of  their  nation,  like  Solomon 
or  Herod,  and  my  subjects  as  brethren  of  a  tribe  similar  to  theirs. 
That,  consequently,  they  were  not  permitted  to  practice  usury 
with  me  or  them,  but  to  treat  us  as  if  we  were  of  the  tribes  of 
Judah.  That,  having  similar  privileges  to  my  other  subjects, 
they  were,  in  like  manner  to  pay  taxes,  and  submit  to  the  laws 
of  conscription  and  others.  By  this  I  gained  many  soldiers. 
Besides,  I  should  have  drawn  great  wealth  to  ^Frauoe,  as  the 


IM  A    VOk'K    KKt'M    SI.    IIKI-KNA. 

.1«>\vs  are  v»>ry  minuMotis,  aiiil  wcmiM  lia\c  ll-.iKcil  id  h  loiinlrv 
whtTf  thov  I'lijovrd  siioli  sii|)ii  iitr  privilcgivs.  M^ut'over,  I  waiiU-d 
lo  •'staUlisli  an  iiiiiviT>al  lilnrtv  of  ooiisi-ii'iicc.  My  s^stiiii  was 
to  nave  no  |»rtHK>ininant  ivligiou,  but  ti»  allt»\v  pi-rfoct  liln-rty  of 
iHtnsoii'Hoo  and  t)f  thunghl,  to  niaki'  all  nu-n  equal,  wliftluT  Pio- 
iostnnts,  (^itholics,  MalK>nM'laMs,  Deists,  or  others;  so  llial  thcii 
'oligion  shouKl  have  no  influenee  in  getting  them  ern|i|oynients 
under  governinoiit.  in  I'aet,  that  it  should  neither  lie  the  means 
of  serving,  or  of  injuring  them  ;  and  that  nu  ohjeetion  should  he 
made  to  a  man's  getting  a  situation  on  the  score  of  religion, 
provided  he  were  lit  for  it  in  other  respects.  I  made  everything 
independent  of  religion.  All  the  trihunals  were  so.  Marriages 
were  independent  of  the  priests;  even  the  burying  grounds  were 
not  left  at  their  dis{)osai,  as  they  could  not  refuse  interment  to 
the  body  of  any  person,  of  whatsoever  religion.  My  intenti(jn 
was  to  render  everything  belonging  to  the  state  and  the  consti- 
tution, purely  civil  and  independent  of  any  religion.  I  wished 
to  deprive  the  priests  of  all  influence  and  power  in  civil  allairs; 
and  to  ol)lige  them  to  confine  themselves  to  their  own  spiritual 
matters,  and  meddle  with  nothing  else."  I  asked  if  uncles  and 
nieces  had  not  a  right  to  marry  in  France.  He  replied,  "Yes; 
but  they  must  obtain  a  special  permission."  I  asked  if  the  per- 
mission were  to  be  granted  by  the  pope.  "  By  the  pope?''  said 
he.  "  No ;"  catching  me  by  the  ear,  and  smiling,  "I  tell  you 
that  neither  the  pope,  nor  any  of  the  priests,  had  power  to  grant 
anything. — By  the  sovereign." 

I  asked  some  questions  relative  to  the  free-masons,  and  his 
opinions  concerning  them.  "  A  set  of  imbeciles  who  meet,  a 
f'lire  bonne  chhre  (to  make  good  cheer),  and  perform  some  ridi- 
culous fooleries.  However,"  said  he,  "  they  do  some  good 
actions.  They  assisted  in  the  revolution,  and  latterly,  lo  dimin- 
ish the  power  of  the  pope  and  the  influence  of  the  clergy,  Wher. 
the  sentiments  of  a  people  are  against  the  government,  every 
society  has  a  tendency  to  do  mischief  to  it."  I  then  asked  if  the 
free-masons  on  the  continent  had  any  connection  with  the  illu 
minati.  He  replied,  "  No ;  that  is  a  society  altogether  different, 
and  in  Germany  is  of  a  very  dangerous  nature."     I  asked  if  he 


1816 — NOVEMBEK.  115 

had  not  eiicuuragod  the  free-masons  1  He  said,  "  Rather  so,  as 
they  fought  agahist  the  pope."  I  then  asked  if  he  ever  would 
have  permitted  the  re-establishiuent  of  the  Jesuits  in  France  ? 
"Never,"  said  he;  '  it  is  the  most  dangerous  of  societies,  and  has 
done  more  mischief  than  all  the  others.  Their  doctrine  is,  that 
their  general  is  the  sovereign  of  sovereigns,  and  master  of  tlie 
world ;  that  all  orders  from  him,  however  contrary  to  the  laws, 
or  however  wicked,  must  be  obeyed.  Every  act,  however  atro- 
cious, committed  by  them  pursuant  to  orders  from  their  general 
at  Rome,  becomes  in  their  eyes  meritorious.  No,  no,  I  would 
never  have  allowed  a  society  to  exist  in  my  dominions,  under 
the  orders  of  a  foreign  general  at  Rome.  In  foct,  I  would  not 
allow  any  frati*  There  were  enough  of  priests  for  those  who 
wanted  them,  without  having  monasteries  filled  with  canaglie,  who 
did  nothing  but  gormandize,  pray,  and  commit  crimes."  I  ob- 
served, that  it  was  to  be  feared  the  priests  and  the  Jesuits  would 
soon  have  great  influence  in  France.  Napoleon  replied,  "  very 
likely.  The  Bourbons  are  fanatics,  and  would  willingly  bring 
back  both  the  Jesuits  and  the  inquisition.  In  reigns  before  mine, 
the  Protestants  were  as  badly  treated  as  the  Jews ;  they  could 
not  purchase  land — I  put  them  upon  a  level  with  the  Catholics. 
They  will  now  be  trampled  upon  by  the  Bourbons,  to  whom 
they  and  everything  else  liberal  will  always  be  objects  of  sus- 
picion. The  Emperor' Alexander  may  allow  them  to  enter  his 
empire,  because  it  is  his  policy  to  draw  into  his  barbarous  country 
men  of  information,  whatsoever  their  sect  may  be,  and  m»re 
over,  they  are  not  to  be  much  feared  in  Russia,  because  the  reli 
gion  is  different." 

The  following  is  his  description  of  Carnot.  A  man  laborious 
and  sincere,  but  liable  to  the  influence  of  intrigues,  and  easily 
deceived.  He  had  directed  the  operations  of  war,  without  hav 
ing  merited  the  eulogiums  which  were  pronounced  upon  him. 
as  he  had  neither  the  experience,  nor  the  habitude  of  war.  Wh^sa 
minister  of  war,  he  showed  but  little  talent,  and  had  many  qu  r 
rels  with  the  minister  of  finance  and  the  treasury  ;  in  all  of  whicc 
he  was  wrong.     He  left  the  ministry,  convinced  that  he  couF 

*  Friars, 


Hi  A    VOICK    FltOM    ST.    nKl.ENA. 

not  fulfil  liis  station  for  wiiut  of  nioiu'v.  lie  uflorwuids  voted 
Hijainst  tlu-  estfll>lisliiiu'nt  of  tho  tMiipirr,  Imt  as  his  conduct  was 
alwavs  upright,  lie  never  jjave  any  uniliragc  to  the  government 
During  the  prosperity  of  the  empire,  he  never  asked  for  any- 
thing ;  but  after  the  misfortunes  of  Russia,  he  demanded  em- 
ployment, and  got  the  command  of  Antwerp,  where  he  acquitted 
himself  very  well.  After  Nap«)leon's  return  from  Elba,  ho  was 
minister  of  the  interior;  and  the  emperor  had  every  reason  to 
be  satisfied  with  his  conduct.  lie  was  faithful,  a  man  of  truth 
and  probity,  and  laborious  in  his  exertions.  After  the  abdica- 
tion, he  was  named  one  of  the  })rovisional  government,  but  he 
was  joue  by  the  intriguers  by  whom  he  was  surrounded.  lie 
had  passed  for  an  original  amongst  his  companions  when  he  was 
young.  He  hated  the  nobles,  and  on  that  account  had  several 
quarrels  with  Robespierre,  who  lately  protected  many  of  them. 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  public  safety  along  with 
Robespierre,  Couthon,  St.  Just,  and  the  other  butchers,  and  was 
the  only  one  who  was  not  denounced.  He  afterwards  demanded 
to  be  included  in  the  denunciation,  and  to  be  tried  for  his  con- 
duct, as  well  as  the  others,  which  was  refused  ;  but  his  having 
made  the  demand  to  share  the  fate  of  the  rest,  gained  him  great 
credit. 

"  Barras,"  he  said,  "  was  a  violent  man,  and  possessed  of  little 
knowledge  or  resolution ;  fickle,  and  far  "from  meriting  the  repu- 
tation which  he  enjoyed,  though  from  the  violence  of  his  manner 
and  loudness  of  tone  in  the  beginning  of  his  speeches,  one  would 
have  thought  otherwise." 

bth. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  at  Longwood.  Informed  him  that, 
though  Napoleon  was  much  better,  it  was  my  opinion,  that  if  he 
persisted  in  the  system  of  confining  himself  to  his  room,  and  in 
not  taking  exercise,  he  would  soon  be  attacked  by  some  serious 
complaint,  and  that  in  all  probability  his  existence  in  St.  Helena 
would  not  be  protracted  for  more  than  a  year  or  two.  Sir  Hud- 
son asked  with  some  degree  of  asperity,  "  Why  did  he  not  take 
exercise?"  1  briefly  recapitulated  to  him  some  of  his  own 
i2s',rictions;  amongst  others,  that  of  placing  sentinels  at  the 
gates  of  the   garden   in   which   he   had   formerly   walked  at  six 


1816— NOVEMBER.  117 

o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  with  orders  to  let  nobody  out;  which 
being  the  cool  of  the  evening,  was  the  most  desirable  time  to 
walk.  Sir  Hudson  said  they  were  not  placed  at  six  o'clock,  but 
only  at  sunset.  I  observed  to  his  excellency  that  the  sun  set 
immediately  after  six,  and  that  in  the  tropics  the  twilight  was  of 
very  short  duration.  The  governor  then  sent  for  Captain  Pop- 
pleton,  and  mads  some  inquiries  concerning  the  posting  of  the 
sentinels  and  their  orders.  Captain  Poppleton  informed  him, 
that  the  orders  which  were  issued  to  the  sentinels  being  verbal, 
were  continually  liable  to  be  misunderstood.  After  some  con- 
versation with  Cap:ain  P.,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  observed,  he  thought 
it  very  extraordinary  that  General  Bonaparte  would  not  ride  out 
with  a  British  officer.  I  remarked,  that  he  would  in  all  proba- 
bility, if  matters  were  well  managed.  For  example,  if  when  he 
mounted  his  horse,  an  officer  was  sent  after  him  at  a  short  dis- 
tance to  watch  his  motions,  I  could  answer  to  his  excellency  that 
Napoleon,  though  he  would  well  know  what  the  officer's  business 
was,  would  never  appear  to  be  aware  of  it,  and  that  he  would  be 
just  as  secure  as  if  an  officer  rode  by  his  side.  I  went  so  far  as 
to  say,  that  Napoleon  had  himself  intimated  to  me  that  he  would 
not  see  any  person  following  him,  provided  it  were  not  officially 
made  known  that  he  was  a  guard  over  him.  Sir  Hudson  replied, 
that  he  would  consider  of  it,  and  desired  me  to  write  him  a  state- 
ment of  my  opinion  of  the  health  of  General  Bonaparte  ;  cau- 
tioning me,  that  in  writing  it,  1  must  bear  in  mind  that  the  life 
of  one  man  was  not  to  be  put  in  competition  with  the  mischief 
which  he  might  cause,  were  he  to  get  loose  ;  and  that  I  must 
recollect,  that  Genei'al  Bonaparte  had  already  been  a  curse  to 
the  world,  and  had  caused  the  loss  of  many  thousands  of  lives. 
That  my  situation  was  very  peculiar,  and  one  of  great  political 
importance. 

A  quantity  of  plate  which  had  been  been  broken  up,  taken  to 
town  by  Cipriani,  and  deposited  with  Balcombe,  Cole  and  Co. 
in  the  presence  of  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  to  whom  the  key  of  the 
chest  containing  it  was  delivered. 

7th. — Napoleon  nmch  better,  and  nearly  free  from  complaint. 

Sth. — Napoleon  asked  me  many  anatomical  and  physiological 


118  A   VOICK    FROM    ST.    HKLKNA. 

questions,  and   observod,  that   In-   had    studiocl  anatoniy  liiiiiivll 
for  a  few   days,   Imt  Imd   boon   sickrncd  Ity    the  sight  of  some 
bi>dios  that  wore  opened,  and  al)andoned  an)  further  progress  in 
that  seieiiee.     After  some  deveh>pn»ent  of  his  ideas  toucning  the 
siiul,  1  made  a  few   remarks  upon   the  Poles  who  had  served  in 
his  army,  who  1  observed  were  greatly  attached  to  his  person. 
"Ah!"   replied  the  emperor,  "they  uure  much  attached  t(j  me. 
The  present  viceroy  of  Poland  was  with  me  in  my  campaigns  in 
Egypt.     I  made   him  a  general.     Most  of  my  old  Polish  guard 
are  now   employed   through  policy  by  Alexander.     They  are  a 
brave  nation,  and  make  good  soldiers.     In   the  cold,  which  pre- 
vails in   the   northern   countries,    the   Pole    is    better    than   the 
Frenchman."      1   asked    him,   if  in   less    rigorous    climates    the 
Poles  were  as  good  soldiers  as  the  French.     "  Oh,  no,  no.     In 
other  places  the  Frenchman  is  much  superior.     Thecommandan 
of  Dantzic  informed  me,  that  during  the  severity  of  the  wintei 
when  the  thermometer  sunk  eighteen  degrees,  it  was  impossiblt 
to  make  the  French  soldiers  keep  their  posts  as  sentinels,  while 
the  Poles  suffered  nothing.     Poniatowsky,"  continued  he,  "  was 
a  noble  character,  full  of  honor  and  bravery.     It  was  my  iuten 
tion  to  have   made  him  king  of  Poland,   had   I  succeeded   in 
Russia."     I  asked   to  what  he   principally  attributed  his  failure 
of  that  expedition.     "To  the  cold,  the  premature  cold,  and  the 
burning  of  Moscow,"  replied  Napoleon.     "  I  was  a  few  days  too 
late — 1   had   made  a  calculation   of  the  weather   for  fifty  years 
before,  and  the  extreme  cold  had  never  commenced  until  about 
the  20th  of  December,  twenty  days  later  than  it  began  this  time. 
While  1  was  at  Moscow,  the  cold  was  at  three  of  the  thermometer 
and  was  such  as  the  French  could   with  pleasure  bear  ;  but  on 
the  march,  the  thermometer  sunk   eighteen  degrees,  and  conse- 
quently  nearly   all    the   horses    perished.     In    one    night   1   lost 
thirty   thousand.     The   artillery,   of  which  1  had    five    hundred 
pieces,  was  in  a  great  measure  obliged  to  be  abandoned ;  neither 
amrimniti<jn  nor  provisions   could    be    carried.     We  could   not 
make  a  reconnaisaunce,  or  send  out  an  advance  of  men  on  horse- 
back to  discover  the  way,  through  the  want  of  horses.     The  sol- 
diers lost  their  spirits,  fell  into  confusion,  and  lost  their  senses. 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  119 

The  most  trifling  thing  alarmed  them.  Four  or  five  men  were 
sufficient  to  frighten  a  whole  battalion.  Instead  of  keeping 
together,  they  wandered  about  in  search  of  fire.  Parties,  when 
sent  out  on  duty  in  advance,  abandoned  their  posts,  and  went  tc 
seek  the  means  of  warming  themselves  in  the  houses.  They 
separated  in  all  directions,  became  helpless,  and  fell  an  easy 
prey  to  the  enemy.  Others  lay  down,  fell  asleep,  a  little  blood 
came  from  their  nostrils,  and,  sleeping,  they  died.  In  this 
manner  thousands  perished.  The  Poles  saved  some  of  their 
horses  and  artillery,  but  the  French,  and  the  soldiers  of  other 
nations  I  had  with  me,  were  no  longer  the  same  men.  In  parti- 
cular, the  cavalry  suffered.  Out  of  forty  thousand,  I  do  not 
think  that  three  thousand  were  saved.  Had  it  not  been  for  that 
fire  at  Moscow,  I  should  have  succeeded.  I  would  have  win- 
tered there.  There  were  in  that  city  about  forty  thousand 
citizens  who  were  in  a  manner  slaves.  For  you  must  know  that 
the  Russian  nobility  keep  their  vassals  in  a  sort  of  slavery.  I 
would  have  proclaimed  liberty  to  all  the  slaves  in  Russia,  and 
abolished  vassalage  and  nobility.  This  would  have  procured 
me  the  union  of  an  immense  and  a  powerful  party.  I  would 
either  have  made  a  peace  at  Moscow,  or  else  I  would  have 
marched  the  next  year  to  Petersburgh.  Alexander  was  assured 
of  it,  and  sent  his  diamonds,  valuables,  and  ships  to  England. 
Had  it  not  been  for  that  fire,  I  should  have  succeeded  in  every 
thing.  I  beat  them  two  days  before,  in  a  great  action  at  Moskwa ; 
I  attacked  the  Russian  army  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
strong,  entrenched  up  to  their  necks,  with  ninety  thousand,  and 
totally  defeated  them.  Seventy  thousand  Russians  lay  upon  thr 
field.  They  had  the  impudence  to  say  that  they  had  gained  the 
battle,  though  two  days  after  I  marched  into  Moscow.  I  was  in 
the  midst  of  a  fine  city,  provisioned  for  a  year,  for  in  Russia 
they  always  lay  in  provisions  for  several  months  before  the  frost 
sets  in.  Stores  of  all  kinds  were  in  plenty.  The  houses  of  the 
inhabitants  were  well  provided,  and  many  had  even  left  their 
servants  to  attend  upon  us.  In  most  of  them  there  was  a  note 
left  by  the  proprietor,  begging  the  French  officers  who  took  pos- 
session to  take  care  of  their  furniture  and  other  things ;  that  they 


rJO  A    VOICK    KKOM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

tiHil  loft  overy  iirtirK'  in'oossaiy  for  our  wants,  and  ho|ir(i  to  '• 
turn  in  a  tow  tlays,  whon  tlio  ICnipoior  Aloxar.dor  had  iicoom 
niodatod  inattors,  at  wliioli  time  ihoy  woidd  l>o  lia|)|>y  to  seo  us 
M:uiy  Indies  roniainod  hohind.  Tlioy  knew  that  I  had  lioen  ii; 
Horlin  and  Vionna  with  my  arniios,  and  that  no  injury  liad  lie«'r 
dono  t(^  tho  inhabitants;  and  inoroovor,  thoy  oxpoolod  a  speed \ 
juaof.  Wo  were  in  hopes  of  enjoying  ourselves  in  winter  quar 
tors,  with  every  j)rospect  of  success  in  the  spring.  Two  days 
•iflcr  our  arrival,  a  fire  was  discovered,  which  at  first  was  not 
supposed  to  he  alarming,  l>ut  to  have  been  ciiuscd  by  the  soldiers 
kindling  their  fires  too  near  the  houses,  which  were  chiefly  of 
wood.  1  was  angry  at  this,  and  issued  very  strict  orders  on  the 
subject  to  the  commandants  of  regiments  and  others.  The  next 
day  it  had  advanced,  but  still  not  so  as  to  give  serious  alarm. 
However,  afraid  that  it  might  gain  upon  us,  I  went  out  on  horse- 
back, and  gave  every  direction  to  extinguish  it.  The  next  morn- 
ing a  violent  wind  arose,  and  the  fire  spread  with  the  greatest 
rapidity.  Some  hundred  miscreants,  hired  for  that  purpose,  dis- 
persed themselves  in  diflereiit  parts  of  the  town,  and  with  matches 
which  they  concealed  under  their  cloaks,  set  fire  to  as  many 
houses  to  windward  as  they  could,  which  was  easily  done  in  con- 
sequence of  the  combustible  materials  of  which  they  were  built. 
This,  together  with  the  violence  of  the  wind,  rendered  every  elfort 
to  extinguish  the  fire  ineffectual.  1  myself  narrowly  escaped  with 
life.  In  order  to  show  an  example,  I  ventured  into  the  midst  of 
the  flames,  and  had  my  hair  and  eye-brows  singed,  and  my 
clothes  burnt  off  my  back ;  but  it  was  in  vain,  as  they  had  de- 
stroyed most  of  the  pumps,  of  which  there  were  above  a  thou- 
sand ;  out  of  all  these,  1  believe  that  we  could  only  find  one  that 
was  serviceable.  Besides,  the  w^retches  that  had  been  hired  by 
Kostopchin,  ran  about  in  every  quarter,  disseminating  fire  with 
their  matches  ;  in  which  they  were  but  too  much  assisted  by  the 
wind.  This  terrible  conflagration  ruined  every  thing.  I  was 
prepared  for  every  thing  but  this.  It  was  unforeseen,  for  who 
would  have  thoii<:ht  that  a  nation  would  have  set  its  capital  on 
fire  ?  The  inhaltitants  themselves,  however,  did  all  they  could 
to  extinguish  it,  and  several  of  them  perished  in  their  endeavors. 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  l2l 

They  also  brought  before  us  numbers  of  the  incendiaries  with 
their  matches,  as  amidst  such  a  popolazzo,  (ci'owd,)  we  never 
could  have  discovered  them  ourselves.  I  caused  about  two  hun 
dred  of  these  wretches  to  be  shot.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  fatal 
fire,  I  had  every  thing  my  army  wanted ;  excellent  winter  quar 
ters  ;  stores  of  all  kinds  were  in  plenty  ;  and  the  next  year  would 
have  decided  it.  Alexander  would  have  made  peace,  or  I  would 
have  been  in  Petersburgh." 

I  asked  if  he  thought  that  he  could  entirely  subdue  Russia. 
"No,"  replied  Napoleon;  "but  I  would  have  caused  Russia  to 
make  such  a  peace  as  suited  the  interests  of  France.  I  was  five 
days  too  late  in  quitting  Moscow.  Several  of  the  generals," 
continued  he,  "were  burnt  out  of  their  beds.  I  myself  remained 
in  the  Kremlin  *  until  surrounded  with  flames.  The  fire  advanced, 
seized  the  Chinese  and  India  warehouses,  and  several  stores  of 
oil  and  spirits,  which  burst  forth  in  flames  and  overwhelmed 
every  thing.  I  then  j-etired  to  a  country  house  of  the  emperor 
Alexander,  distant  about  a  league  from  Moscow,  and  you  may 
figure  to  yourself  the  intensity  of  the  fire,  when  I  tell  you  that 
you  could  scarcely  bear  your  hands  upon  the  walls  or  the  win- 
dows, on  the  side  next  to  Moscow,  in  consequence  of  their  heated 
state.  It  was  the  spectacle  of  a  sea  and  billows  of  fire,  a  sky 
and  clouds  of  flame;  mountains  of  red  rolling  flames,  like  im- 
mense waves  of  the  sea,  alternately  bursting  forth  and  elevating 
themselves  to  skies  of  fire,  and  then  sinking  into  the  ocean  of 
flame  below.  Oh,  it  was  the  most  grand,  the  most  sublime,  and 
the  most  terrific  sight  the  world  ever  beheld  ! !  Allfnis,  Doc- 
teur"j;  (come,  doctor.) 

9th. — Had  some  conversation  with  the  emperor  concerning 
religion.  I  observed,  that  in  England  there  were  different  opi- 
nions about  his  faith ;  that  some  had  latterly  supposed  him  to  be 

*  General  Gourgaud  informed  me,  that  during  the  conflagration,  great  num- 
<er8  of  crows  (which  are  in  myriads  at  Moscow)  perched  in  flocks  upon  the 
k.)wers  of  tlie  Kremlin,  from  wlience  they  frequently  descended  and  hovered 
itiund  the  French  soldiers,  flapjnng  their  wings  and  screaming,  as  if  menacing 
tfttm  with  the  destruction  that  followed.  He  added,  that  the  troops  were  dis- 
pirited from  this,  which  they  conceived  to  be  a  bad  omen. 

t  Tills  was  Napoleon's  general  expression  when  he  wished  me  to  retire. 

(S 


122  A   VOICK    KHOM    ST.    MKLKNA. 

a  Kuinnn  Cutholio.  "  A7;/>» /i*-,''  rrj>lifil  lie.  "  Credn  tutla  <ju(l 
ehe  crede  hi  chirsa."'  (1  Uolifvo  all  that  the  cIiuihIi  In  ruvcs  )  "I 
used,"  I'ontiiiuod  lu*,  "to  make  tlii'  liisliop  of  Nantes  dispiile  \>ith 
ihe  Pope  fretjueiitly  in  my  presence,  lie  wanted  to  ie-estal)lish 
the  monks.  My  bishop  used  to  tell  him  that  the  ciniMinr  had 
no  olijeetion  to  persons  being  monks  in  their  hearts,  but  tliat  ho 
objected  to  aUowing  any  society  of  them  to  exist  pid)licly.  The 
Pope  wanted  me  to  confess,  which  I  always  evaded  l)y  saying, 
'Holy  father,  {^saii  to  padre,)  I  am  too  much  occupied  at  jiresent. 
When  I  get  older.'  I  took  a  pleasure  in  conversing  with  the 
Pope,  who  was  a  good  old  man,  vio  testanh,  (though  obstinate.)" 

"There  are  so  many  diflerent  religions,"  continued  he,  "  or 
modifications  of  them,  that  it  is  difficult  to  know  w  hich  to  choose 
if  one  religion  had  existed  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  1 
should  think  that  to  be  the  true  one.  As  it  is,  I  am  of  oj)iiiioii  that 
every  person  ought  to  conliime  in  the  religion  in  which  he  was 
brought  up  ;  in  that  of  his  fathers.  What  are  you  V  "  A  Pro- 
testant," I  replied.  "Was  your  father  so?"  1  said,  "Yes." 
"Then  continue  in  that  belief." 

"  In  France,"  continued  he,  "1  received  Catholics  and  Protes- 
tants alike  at  my  levee.  I  paid  their  ministers  alike.  I  gave 
the  Protestants  a  fine  church  at  Paris,  which  had  fijrmerly  belong 
ed  to  the  Jesuits.  In  order  to  prevent  any  religious  quarrels  in 
places  where  there  were  both  Catholic  and  Protestant  churches,  I 
prohibited  them  from  tolling  the  bells  to  summon  the  people  to 
worship  in  their  respective  churches,  unless  the  ministers  of  the 
one  and  the  other  made  a  specific  request  for  permission  to  do 
so,  and  stating  that  it  was  at  the  desire  and  request  of  the  members 
of  each  religion.  Permission  was  then  given  for  a  year,  and  if 
at  the  expiration  of  that  year  the  demand  was  not  renewed  by 
both  parties  again,  it  was  not  continued.  By  these  means,  I  pre- 
vented the  squaljblcs  which  had  previously  existed,  as  the  Catho- 
lic priests  found  that  they  could  not  have  their  own  bells  tolled, 
unless  the  Protestants  had  a  similar  privilege." 

"There  is  a  link  between  animals  and  the  Deity.  Man.'' 
added  he,  "is  merely  a  more  perfect  animal  than  the  rest.  lie 
reasons  better.     But  how  do  we  know  that  animals   have  not  a 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  12J^ 

language  of  their  own?  My  opinion  is,  that  it  is  presumption 
in  us  to  say  no,  because  we  do  not  understand  them.  A  horse 
has  memory,  knowledge  and  love.  He  knows  his  master  from 
the  servants,  though  the  latter  are  more  constantly  with  him.  I 
had  a  horse  myself,  who  knew  me  from  any  other  person,  and 
manifested  by  capering  and  proudly  marching  with  his  head 
erect,  when  I  was  on  his  back,  his  knowledge  that  he  bore  a  per- 
son superior  to  the  others  by  whom  he  was  surrounded.  Neither 
would  he  allow  any  other  person  to  mount  him,  except  one 
groom,  who  constantly  took  care  of  him,  and  when  rode  by  him, 
his  motions  were  far  different,  and  such  as  seemed  to  say  that  he 
was  conscious  he  bore  an  inferior.  When  I  lost  my  way,  I  wa> 
accustomed  to  throw  the  reins  down  his  neck,  and  he  always  dis- 
covered it  in  places  where  I,  with  all  my  observation  and  boasted 
superior  knowledge,  could  not.  Who  can  deny  the  sagacity  of 
dogs  1  There  is  a  link  between  all  animals.  Plants  are  so 
many  animals  which  eat  and  drink  ;  and  there  are  gradations  up 
to  man,  who  is  only  the  most  perfect  of  them  all.  The  same 
spirit  animates  them  all  in  a  greater  or  a  lesser  degree." 

"  That  governor,"  added  he,  "  has  closed  up  the  path  which 
led  to  the  company's  gardens,  where  I  used  to  walk  sometimes, 
as  it  is  the  only  spot  sheltered  from  the  vento  agro,  (liad  wind,) 
which  T  supposed  he  thought  was  to  great  an  indulgence,  '  Son 
certo  che  ha  qualche  cattivo  oggetto  in  vista,  (I  am  certain  that  he 
has  some  bad  object  in  view).  But  I  do  not  give  myself  any 
uneasiness  about  it,  as  when  a  man's  time  has  come,  he  must 
go."  I  took  the  liberty  of  asking  if  he  was  a  predestinarian. 
^^ Sicuro,''^  replied  Napoleon,  "as  much  so  as  the  Turks  are.  I 
have  been  always  so.  When  destiny  wills,  it  must  be  obeyed. 
( Quando  lo  vuole  il  desdno,  hisogna  ubhedirey^ 

Asked  him  some  questions  about  Blucher.  "  Blucher,"  said  he, 
"is  a  very  brave  soldier,  un  ban  sabreur,  (a  good  swordsman.) 
He  is  like  a  bull  who  shuts  his  eyes,  and,  seeing  no  danger, 
rushes  on.  He  committed  a  thousand  faults,  and  had  it  not  been 
for  circumstances,  I  could  repeatedly  have  made  him  and  the 
greatest  part  of  his  army  prisoners.  He  is  stubborn  and  inde- 
fatigable, afraid  of  nothing,  and  very  much  attached  to  his  coun- 


124  A    \0\CK    KUt>M    ST.    HKI-ENA, 

try,  liiit  as  a  i;oinTiil,  In-  is  \siilii>ul  liilciil.  I  rfiollci-t,  tliat  whon 
I  WJU5  ill  Pnissin,  ho  diiunl  at  my  tabio  afU'r  ho  had  siirit'iiili-rtd, 
.iiid  ho  was  thou  ooiisidorod  to  Ito  an  ordinary  charaotor." 

Spoakini;  ahout  tho  English  soldiors,  lio  observod,  "  tho  English 
si'ldior  is  Kravo,  imliDdy  nioro  so,  and  tho  ollicors  gonoraily  inon 
of  honor,  liut  I  do  not  think  thoni  yot  capabh'  of  oxt-oiiting  grand 
niaiKViivres.  I  think  that  it'  I  wort-  at  tin-  head  of  ihcm,  I  cnulil 
make  tnoni  do  any  thing,  llowovt-r,  I  know  ihcni  ii()t  onoiigh 
yot  to  speak  dooidodly.  I  had  a  oonvorsatiun  with  Bingham 
about  it ;  and  though  he  is  of  a  dilloront  ojiinion,  I  would  alter 
your  system.  Instead  of  the  lash,  I  would  lead  them  by  the 
stimulus  of  honor.  I  would  instil  a  degree  of  emulation  into 
thuir  minds.  1  would  promote  every  deserving  soldier,  as  I  did 
in  France.  After  an  action,  I  assembled  the  officers  and  soldiers, 
and  asked,  who  have  acquitted  themselves  best;  {Quels  sont  les 
braves.^)  and  promoted  such  of  them  as  were  capable  of  reading 
and  writing.  Those  who  were  not,  I  ordered  to  study  five  hours 
a  day  until  they  had  learned  a  sufficiency,  and  then  promoted 
them.  What  might  not  be  expected  from  the  English  army,  if 
every  soldier  hoped  to  bo  made  a  general  if  he  behaved  well? 
Bingham  says,  however,  that  the  greatest  part  of  your  soldiers 
are  brutes,  and  must  be  driven  by  the  stick.  But  surely,"  con- 
tinued  he,  "the  English  soldiers  must  be  possessed  of  sentiments 
sufficient  to  put  them  at  least  upon  a  level  with  the  soldiers  of 
otiier  nations,  where  the  degrading  system  of  the  lash  is  not 
used.  Whatever  debases  man  cannot  be  serviceable.  Bingham 
oays,  that  none  but  the  dregs  of  the  canaille  voluntarily  enter  as 
soldiers.  This  disgraceful  punishment  is  the  cause  of  it.  I 
would  remove  it,  and  make  even  the  situation  of  a  private  sol- 
dier be  considered  as  conferring  honor  upon  the  individual  who 
bore  it.  I  would  act  as  I  did  in  France.  I  would  encourage 
young  men  of  education,  the  sons  of  merchants,  gentlemen  and 
others,  to  enter  as  private  soldiers,  and  promote  them  according 
to  their  merits.  I  would  substitute  confinement,  bread  and 
water,  the  contempt  of  his  comrades,  le  me/jris  de  ses  camarades,) 
and  such  other  punishments,  for  the  lash.  Quaudo  il  soldato  e 
uvvilito  e  disonorato  colle  Jruslre,  poco  gli  'prciae  la  yloria  o  P  otiore 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  125 

della  sua  patria*  What  honor  can  a  man  possibly  have  who  is 
flogged  before  his  comrades  1  He  loses  all  feeling,  and  would 
as  soon  fight  against  as  for  his  country,  if  he  were  better  paid  by 
the  opposite  party.  When  the  Austrians  had  possession  of  Italj, 
they  in  vain  attempted  to  make  soldiers  of  the  Italians,  They 
either  deserted  as  fast  as  they  raised  them,  or  else,  when  com- 
pelled to  advance  against  an  enemy,  they  ran  away  on  the  first 
fire.  It  was  impossible  to  keep  together  a  single  regiment. 
When  I  got  Italy,  and  began  to  raise  soldiers,  the  Austrians 
laughed  at  me,  and  said  that  it  was  in  vain,  that  they  had  been 
trying  for  a  long  time,  and  that  it  was  not  in  the  nature  of  the 
Italians  to  fight  or  to  make  good  soldiers.  Notwithstanding  this, 
I  raised  many  thousands  of  Italians,  who  fought  with  a  bravery 
equal  to  the  French,  and  did  not  desert  me  even  in  my  adversity. 
What  was  the  cause  1  I  abolished  flogging  and  the  stick,  which 
the  Austrians  had  adopted.  I  promoted  those  amongst  the  sol- 
diers who  had  talents,  and  made  many  of  them  generals.  I  sub- 
stituted honor  and  emulation  for  terror  and  the  lash." 

I  asked  his  opinion  relative  to  the  comparative  merit  of  the 
Russians,  Prussians,  and  Germans.  Napoleon  replied,  "Soldiers 
change  ;  sometimes  brave,  sometimes  laches,  (cowardly).  I  have 
seen  the  Russians  at  Eylau  perform  prodigies  of  valor  :  they  were 
so  many  heroes.  At  Moscow,  entrenched  up  to  their  necks,  they 
allowed  me  to  beat  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men  with 
ninety  thousand.  At  Jena,  and  at  other  battles  in  that  campaign, 
the  Prussians  fled  like  sheep;  since  that  time,  they  have  fought 
bravely.  My  opinion  is,  that  notv,  the  Prussian  soldier  is  supe- 
rior to  the  Austrian.  The  French  cuirassiers  were  the  best 
cavalry  in  the  world  pour  enforcer  finfanterie,  (to  drive  the 
infantry).  Individually,  there  is  no  horseman  superior,  or  per- 
haps equal,  to  the  Mameluke  ;  but  they  cannot  act  in  a  body. 
As  partizans,  the  Cossacs  excel,  and  the  Poles  as  lancers."  This 
he  said  in  reply  to  a  question  made  by  me  of  his  opinion  relative 
to  the  cavalry. 

I  asked  who  he  thought  was  the  best  general  amongst  the  Aus- 

•  "  When  a  soldier  lias  lieen  debased  and  dishonored  by  stripes,  he  care»  but 
little  for  the  glory  or  the  honor  of  his  country." 


12(^  A    VOk'K    KKOM    ST.    IlKl.KNA. 

trians.  "  Prijioo  Cliarh's,"  ho  ivplii'd  ;  "  tln)ii<jli  la*  has  coiMiuitted 
a  thousand  faults.  As  to  Si-hwartzcnberg,  ho  i.s  not  fit  to  coni- 
niand  >ix   thousand   men.'' 

NajioK'on  tlu-n  spoko  aliuut  the  siege  uf  Toulon,  and  ulisorved, 
that  he  had  made  General  O'llara  prisoner,  "  I  ma}'  say,"  said 
he,  *'  with  my  own  lumd.  1  had  constructed  a  masked  battery  ul" 
^ight  twenty-tbur  pounders,  and  four  mortars,  in  order  to  open 
upon  fort  Malbosquet,  (I  think  it  was)  which  was  in  possession 
of  the  English.  It  was  finished  in  the  evening,  and  it  was  my 
intention  to  have  opened  upon  them  in  the  morning.  While  I 
was  giving  directions  at  another  part  of  the  army,  some  of  the 
deputies  from  the  convention  came  down.  In  those  days  they 
sometimes  took  upon  them  to  direct  the  operations  of  the  armies, 
and  those  imbeciles  ordered  the  battery  to  commence,  which  was 
obeyed.  As  soon  as  I  saw  this  premature  fire,  I  immediately 
conceived  that  the  English  general  would  attack  the  battery  and 
most  probably  carry  it,  as  matters  had  not  been  yet  arranged  to 
support  it.  In  fact  O'llara,  seeing  that  the  fire  from  that  battery 
would  dislodge  his  troops  from  Malbosquet,  from  which  last  I 
would  have  taken  the  fort  which  commanded  iho  harbor,  deter- 
mined upon  attacking  it.  Accordingly,  early  in  the  morning,  he 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  sallied  out,  and  actually 
carried  the  Viattery  and  the  lines  I  had  formed  (Napoleon  here 
drew  a  plan  upon  a  piece  of  paper  of  the  situation  of  the  bat- 
teries) to  the  left,  and  those  to  the  right  were  taken  by  the  Nea- 
politans. While  he  was  busy  in  spiking  the  guns,  I  advanced 
with  three  or  four  hundred  grenadiers,  unperceived,  through  a 
'lot/au  covered  with  olive-trees,  which  communicated  with  the 
battery,  and  commenced  a  terrible  fire  upon  his  troops.  The 
English,  astonished,  at  first  supposed  that  the  Neapolitans,  who 
had  the  lines  on  the  right,  had  mistaken  them  for  French,  and 
said,  it  is  those  canaglie  of  Neapolitans  who  are  firing  upon  us 
(for  even  at  that  time  your  troops  despised  the  Neapolitans). 
O'llara  ran  out  of  the  battery  and  advanced  towards  us.  In 
advancing,  he  was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  the  fire  of  a  sergeant, 
and  I,  who  stood  at  the  mouth  of  the  horjau,  seized  him  by  the 
coat,  and  threw  him  back  amongst  my  own  men,  thinking  that  h« 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  127 

W&3  a  colonel,  as  he  had  two  epaulettes  on.  While  they  were 
taking  him  to  the  rear,  he  cried  out  that  he  was  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  English.  He  thought  that  they  were  going  to 
massacre  him,  as  there  existed  a  horrible  order  at  that  time  from 
the  convention  to  give  no  quarter  to  the  English.  I  ran  up  and 
prevented  the  soldiers  from  ill-treating  him.  He  spoke  very  bad 
French  ;  and  as  I  saw  that  he  imagined  they  intended  to  butcher 
him,  I  did  everything  in  my  power  to  console  him,  and  gave 
directions  that  his  wound  should  be  immediately  dressed,  and 
every  attention  paid  to  him.  He  afterwards  begged  of  me  to 
give  him  a  statement  of  how  he  had  been  taken,  in  order  that  he 
might  show  it  to  his  government  in  his  justification." 

"  Those  blockheads  of  deputies,"  continued  he,  "  wanted  to 
attack  and  storm  the  town  first ;  but  I  explained  to  them  that  it 
was  very  strong,  and  that  we  should  lose  many  men  ;  that  the 
best  way  would  be  to  make  ourselves  masters  of  the  forts  which 
commanded  the  harbor,  and  then  the  English  would  either  be 
taken  or  be  obliged  to  burn  the  greatest  part  of  the  fleet  and 
escape.  My  advice  was  taken  ;  and  the  English,  perceiving  what 
would  be  the  result,  set  fire  to  the  ships  and  abandoned  the  town. 
If  a  libeccio*  had  come  on,  they  would  have  been  all  taken.  It 
was  Sydney  Smith  who  set  them  on  tire,  and  he  would  have 
burnt  them  all,  if  the  Spaniards  had  behaved  well.  It  was  the 
finest  feu  d''artifice  (fire-works)  possible." 

"  Those  Neapolitans,"  continued  he,  "  are  the  most  vile  cana- 
glie  in  the  world.  Murat  ruined  me  by  advancing  against  the 
Austrians  with  them.  When  old  Ferdinand  heard  of  it,  he 
laughed,  and  said,  in  his  jargon,  that  they  would  serve  Murat  as 
they  had  done  him  before,  when  Championet  dispersed  a  hundred 
thousand  of  them  like  so  many  sheep,  with  ten  thousand  French 
men.  I  had  forbidden  Murat  to  act ;  as  after  I  returned  from 
Elba,  there  was  an  understanding  between  the  Emperor  of  Aus- 
tria and  me,  that  if  I  gave  him  up  Italy,  he  would  not  join  the  coali- 
tion against  me.  This  I  had  promised,  and  would  have  fulfilled 
it ;  but  that  imbecile,  in  spite  of  the  directions  I  had  given  him  to 
remain  quiet,  advanced  with  his  rabble  into  Italy,  where  he  wa« 

*  A  south  wiud. 


128  A    VOICK    HU»M    ST.    nELENA. 

Mown  jiwHV  liki'  :i  piitr.  Tin-  lCin|>o(»()r  of  Austria  seeing  'I's, 
ooiioluiK'd  diroi'lly  that  if  was  l>y  my  t>riii'rs,  and  that  I  drcoived 
him;  and,  lioing  coiiM-ious  tliat  hf  had  betrayi-d  me  himst'lf,  ht 
siippusi'd  that  I  did  not  iiitoiid  to  kei'p  faith  with  him,  aru  de- 
ti'rmiiu'd  t«»  t'lidcavor  to  crush  me  witli  all  his  forci's.  Twice 
Murat  liotraycd  and  ruined  mc.  Before,  when  he  foisunk  me 
joined  the  allies  with  sixty  thousand  men,  and  oliliged  me  tc 
leave  thirty  thousand  men  in  Italy,  when  1  wanted  them  so 
much  elsewhere.  At  that  time,  his  army  was  well  c^flicered  \>y 
French.  Had  it  not  hcen  for  this  rash  step  of  Murat's  the  Rus- 
sians would  have  retreated,  as  their  intentions  were  not  to  have 
advanced,  if  Austria  did  not  join  the  coalition  ;  so  that  you  would 
have  been  left  to  yourselves,  and  have  gladly  made  a  peace." 

He  observed  that  he  had  always  l)een  willing  to  make  a  peace 
with  England.  "Let  your  ministers  say  what  they  like,"  said 
he,  ''  I  was  always  ready  to  make  a  peace.  At  the  time  that  Fox 
died,  there  was  every  prospect  of  effecting  one.  If  Lord  Lau- 
derdale had  been  sincere  at  first,  it  would  also  have  been  con- 
cluded. Before  the  campaign  in  Prussia,  I  caused  it  to  be  signified 
to  him  that  he  had  better  get  his  countrymen  to  make  peace,  as 
1  would  be  master  of  Prussia  in  two  months  ;  for  this  reason, 
that  although  liussia  and  Prussia  united  might  be  able  to  oppose 
me,  yet  that  Prussia  alone  could  not.  That  the  Russians  were 
three  months'  march  distant;  and  that  as  I  had  intelligence  that 
their  plan  of  campaign  was  to  defend  Berlin,  instead  of  retiring, 
in  order  to  obtain  the  support  of  the  Russians,  I  would  destroy 
their  army,  and  take  Berlin  before  the  Russians  came  up,  who 
alone  I  would  easily  defeat  afterwards.  I  therefore  advised  him 
to  lake  advantage  of  my  oflfer  of  peace,  before  Prussia,  who  was 
your  Vjest  friend  on  the  continent,  was  destroyed.  After  this 
communication,  I  believe  that  Lord  Lauderdale  was  sincere,  and 
that  he  wrote  to  your  ministers  recommending  peace  :  but  they 
would  not  agree  to  it,  thinking  that  the  king  of  Prussia  was  at 
the  h'-ad  of  a  hundred  thousand  men  ;  that  I  might  be  defeated, 
and  fiat  a  defeat  would  be  my  ruin.  This  was  possible.  A 
Dattle  sometimes  decides  every  thing;  and  sometimes  the  most 
trifling  thing  decides  the  fate  of  a  battle.     The  event,  however, 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  129 

proved  that  I  was  right,  as  after  Jena,  Prussia  was  mine.  After 
Tilsit  and  at  Erfurth,"  continued  he,  "  a  letter  containing  pro- 
posals of  peace  to  England,  and  signed  by  the  Emperor  Alexander 
and  myself,  was  sent  to  your  ministers,  but  they  would  not  ac- 
cept of  them." 

He  spoke  of  Sir  Sydney  Smith.  "  Sydney  Smith,"  said  he, 
"  is  a  brave  officer.  He  displayed  considerable  ability  in  the 
treaty  for  the  evacuation  of  Egypt  by  the  French.  He  took 
advantage  of  the  discontent  which  he  found  to  prevail  amongst 
the  French  troops,  at  being  so  long  away  from  France,  and  other 
circumstances.  He  also  manifested  great  honor  in  sending  im- 
mediately to  Kleber  the  refusal  of  Lord  Keith  to  ratify  the 
treaty,  which  saved  the  French  army ;  as,  if  he  had  kept  it  a 
secret  for  seven  or  eight  days  longer,  Cairo  would  have  been 
given  up  to  the  Turks,  and  the  French  army  necessarily  obliged 
to  surrender  to  the  English.  He  also  showed  great  humanity 
and  honor  in  all  his  proceedings  towards  the  French  who  fell  into 
his  hands.  He  landed  at  Havre,  for  some  sottise  (folly)  of  a  bet 
that  he  had  made  to  go  to  the  theatre,  according  to  some ;  others 
say,  that  it  was  for  espionage;  however  that  may  be,  he  was 
arrested  and  confined  to  the  Temple  as  a  spy ;  and  at  one  time  it 
was  intended  to  try  and  execute  him.  Shortly  after  I  returned 
from  Italy,  he  wrote  to  me  from  his  prison,  in  order  to  intercede 
for  him  ;  but  under  the  circumstances  he  was  taken,  I  could  do 
nothing  for  him.  He  is  active,  intelligent,  intriguing,  and  in- 
defatigable ;  but  I  believe  that  he  is  mezzo  yazzo^''  (half  a  fool.) 

I  asked  if  Sir  Sydney  had  not  displayed  great  talent  and  bra- 
very at  Acre  %  Napoleon  replied,  "  Yes  ;  the  chief  cause  of  the 
failure  there  was,  that  he  took  all  my  battering  train,  which  was 
on  board  of  several  small  vessels.  Had  it  not  been  for  that,  I 
would  have  taken  Acre  in  spite  of  him.  He  behaved  very 
bravely,  and  was  well  seconded  by  Phillipeaux,  a  Frenchman  of 
talent,  who  had  studied  with  me  as  an  engineer.  There  was  a 
Major  Douglass,  also,  who  behaved  very  gallantly.  The  acqui- 
sition of  five  or  six  hundred  seamen  as  cannon iers,  was  a  great 
advantage  to  the  Turks,  whose  spirits  they  revived,  and  whom 
they  showed  how  to  defend  the   fortress.     But  he   committed  a 

6* 


13C  A     VOK'K    FKo.M    S!.    IIKLKNA, 

great  fault  in  making  sortirs,  which  c'<ist  the  lives  of  two  or  tL  ce 
huiuirod  hravo  follows,  without  t')-  possibility  of  success.  For 
it  was  inipossiblt'  hi'  o<»ulil  sucrcoil  ajiainst  the  miinher  of  the 
French  who  were  before  Aire,  i  woulil  lay  a  waj^er  that  he  lust 
half  of  his  crew  in  them.  He  dispersetl  proelamaliims  ami)ii>rst 
my  troops,  which  certainly  shook  some  of  them,  and  1  in  conse- 
i|uence  published  an  order  stating  that  he  was  jnad,  and  forbid- 
dinjj  all  communication  with  him.  Some  days  after  he  sent,  by 
means  of  a  flag  of  truce,  a  lieutenant  or  a  midshipman  with  a 
ietter  containing  a  challenge  to  me  to  meet  him  at  some  place 
he  pointed  out.  in  order  to  fight  a  duel.  I  laughed  at  this,  and 
sent  him  back  an  intimation  that  when  he  brought  Marlliorough 
to  fight  with  me,  1  would  meet  him.  Notwithstanding  this,  I 
like  the  character  of  the  man." 

In  answer  to  a  remark  of  mine,  that  the  invasion  of  Spain  had 
been  a  measure  very  destructive  to  him,  he  replied,  "If  the  gov- 
ernment I  established  had  remained,  it  would  have  been  the  best 
thing  that  ever  happened  for  Spain.  I  would  have  regenerated 
the  Spaniards  ;  I  would  have  made  them  a  great  nation.  Instead 
of  a  feeble,  imbecile,  and  superstitious  race  of  Bourbons,  I  would 
have  given  them  a  new  dynasty,  that  would  have  no  claim  on 
the  nation,  except  by  the  good  it  would  have  rendered  unto  it. 
For  an  hereditary  race  of  asses,  they  would  have  had  a  monarch 
with  ability  to  revive  the  nation,  sunk  under  the  yoke  of  super- 
stition and  ignorance.  Perhaps  it  is  better  for  France  that  1  did 
not  succeed,  as  Spain  would  have  been  a  formidaVjle  rival.  I 
would  have  destroyed  superstition  and  priestcraft,  and  abolished 
the  inquisition  and  the  monasteries  of  those  lazy  bestie  de/rati 
(beasts  of  Friars.)  I  would  at  least  have  rendered  the  priests 
harndess.  The  guerillas,  who  fought  so  bravely  against  me,  now 
lament  their  success.  When  I  was  last  in  Paris,  I  had  letters 
from  Mina,  and  many  other  leaders  of  the  guerillas,  craving 
assistance  to  expel  their  Jriar  from  the  throne. 

Nafioleon  afterwards  made  some  observations  relative  to  the 
governor,  whose  suspicious  and  mysterious  conduct  he  contrasted 
with  the  open  and  undisguised  manner  in  which  Sir  George  Co»k 
bum  conducted  himself     "Though  the  admiral  was  severe  and 


181S— NOVEMBER.  131 

ro'jgb,"  said  he,  "  yet  he  was  incapable  of  a  mean  action.  He  had 
no  atrocities  in  contemplation,  and  therefore  made  no  mystery 
or  seciccy  of  his  conduct.  Never  have  I  suspected  him  of  any 
sinister  design.  Though  I  might  not  like  him,  yet  I  could  not 
despise  him.  I  despise  the  other.  As  a  jailer,  the  admiral  was 
kind  and  humane,  and  we  ought  to  be  grateful  to  him  ;  as  our 
host,  we  have  reason  to  be  dissatisfied,  and  to  complain  of  him. 
This  jailer  deprives  life  of  every  inducement  to  me.  Were  it 
not  that  it  would  be  an  act  of  cowardice,  and  that  it  would  please 
your  ministers,  I  would  get  rid  of  it.  Tengo  la  vita  j^er  la  gloria 
(I  live  for  glory.)  There  is  more  courage  in  supporting  an  exist- 
ence like  mine,  than  in  abandoning  it.  This  governor  has  a 
double  correspondence  with  your  ministers,  similar  to  that  which 
all  your  ambassadors  maintain;  one  written  so  as  to  deceive  the 
world,  should  they  ever  be  called  upon  to  publish  it ;  and  the 
other,  giving  a  true  account,  for  themselves  alone."  I  observed, 
that  I  believed  all  ambassadors  and  other  official  persons  in  all 
countries,  wrote  two  accounts,  one  for  the  public,  and  the  other 
containing  matters  which  it  might  not  be  right  to  divulge. 
"  True,  signor  medico^''''  replied  Napoleon,  taking  me  by  the  ear 
in  a  good-humored  manner,  "  but  there  is  not  so  Machiavelian  a 
ministz'y  in  the  world  as  your  own.  Cela  tient  a  voire  systeme. 
(that  holds  in  your  system.)  That,  and  the  liberty  of  your  press, 
obliges  your  ministers  to  render  some  account  to  the  nation,  and 
therefore  they  want  to  be  able  to  deceive  the  public  in  many  in- 
stances ;  but  as  it  is  also  necessary  for  them  to  know  the  truth 
themselves^  they  have  a  double  correspondence ;  one  official  and 
false,  calculated  to  gull  the  nation,  when  published,  or  called  for  by 
the  parliament;  the  other,  private  and  true,  to  be  kept  locked  u]> 
in  their  own  bosoms,  and  not  deposited  in  the  archives.  In  this 
way,  they  manage  to  make  every  thing  appear  as  they  wish  to 
John  Bull.  Now  this  system  of  falsehood  is  not  necessary  in  a 
country  where  there  is  no  obligation  to  publish,  or  to  render  an 
account ;  as,  if  the  sovereign  does  not  like  to  make  known  any 
transaction  officially,  he  keeps  it  to  himself,  and  gives  no  expla- 
nation, therefore  there  is  no  need  of  causing  varnished  accounts 
to  be  written,  in  order  to  deceive  the  people.     For  these  reasons, 


182  A    VitUK    F1U>M    SI      IIKI.KNa 

thero  iiro  inoir  rrtlsirK'ntit)ns  in  vour  oiricial  (iinMimciits.  fh.k  .  .n 
those  of  any  other  nation." 

10/A.  -Wrote  a  statenn-nt  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  pmjioiling  it 
to  be  my  opinion,  that  a  further  continuance  of  confinement  and 
want  of  exercise  would  he  productive  of  some  serious  ccnnphiint 
to  Naj>olei>n,  which  in  all  prohahility  would  prove  fatal  to  him, 

I2th. — Conversed  with  Napoleon,  who  was  in  his  hath,  for  a 
considerable  lime.  On  asking  his  opinion  of  Talleyrand,  "Tal- 
leyrand," said  he  " /t' ^j/hs  vil  dcs  (iifiofeiirs,  has  Jlntteur.  C  est 
itn  honime  corrotiipii,  (one  of  the  vilest  of  jobljers,  a  base  flat- 
terer, lie  is  a  corrupt  man,)  who  has  betrayed  all  parties  and 
persons.  Wary  and  circumspect;  always  a  traitor,  but  always 
in  conspiracy  with  fortune.  Talleyrand  treats  his  enemies  as  if 
they  were  one  day  to  become  his  friends  ;  and  his  friends^  as  if 
they  were  to  become  his  enemies.  He  is  a  man  of  talent,  but 
venal  in  every  thing.  Nothing  could  be  done  with  him  but  by 
means  of  bribery.  The  kings  of  Wirtemberg  and  Bavaria  made 
so  many  complaints  of  his  rapacity  and  extortion,  that  I  took  his 
portfeuille  from  him :  moreover  I  found  that  he  had  divulged  to 
some  intrigants,  a  most  important  secret  which  I  had  confided  to 
him  alone.  He  hates  the  Bourbons  in  his  heart.  W^hen  I  re- 
turned from  Elba,  Talleyrand  wrote  to  me  from  Vienna,  offering 
his  services,  and  to  betray  the  Bourbons,  provided  I  would  par- 
don and  restore  him  to  favor.  He  argued  upon  a  part  of  my 
proclamation,  in  which  I  said  there  were  circumstances  which  it 
was  impossible  to  resist,  which  he  quoted.  But  I  considered  that 
there  were  a  few  I  was  obliged  to  except,  and  refused,  as  it  would 
have  excited  indignation  if  1  had  not  punished  somebody." 

I  asked  if  it  were  true  that  Talleyrand  had  advised  him  to  de- 
throne the  King  of  Spain,  and  mentioned  that  the  Duke  of  Ro- 
vigo  had  told  me  that  Talleyrand  had  said  in  his  presence, 
*'  Your  majesty  will  never  be  secure  upon  your  throne,  while  a 
Bourbon  is  seated  upon  one."  He  replied,  "True,  he  advised 
me  to  do  every  thing  which  would  injure  the  Bourbons,  whom  he 
detests." 

Napoleon  showed  me  the  marks  of  two  wounds ;  one  a  very 
deep  cicatrice  above  the  left  knee,  which  he  said  he  had  received 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  1&3 

in  his  first  campaign  of  Italy,  and  was  of  so  serious  a  nature, 
that  the  surgeons  were  in  doubt  whether  it  might  not  be  ulti- 
mately necessary  to  amputate.  He  observed,  that  when  he  was 
wounded,  it  was  always  kept  a  secret,  in  order  not  to  discourage 
the  soldiers.  The  other  was  on  the  toe,  and  had  been  received  at 
Eckmuhl.  "At  the  siege  of  Acre,"  continued  he,  "a  shell 
thrown  by  Sydney  Smith,  fell  at  my  feet.  Two  soldiers  who 
were  close  by,  seized,  and  closely  embraced  me,  one  in  front  and 
the  other  on  one  side,  and  made  a  rampart  of  their  bodies  for 
me,  against  the  effect  of  the  shell,  which  exploded,  and  over- 
whelmed us  with  sand. — We  sunk  into  the  hole  formed  by  its 
DUrsting;  one  of  them  was  wounded.  I  made  them  both  officers. 
One  has  since  lost  a  leg  at  Moscow,  and  commanded  at  Vin- 
cennes  when  I  left  Paris.  When  he  was  summoned  by  the 
Russians,  he  replied,  that  as  soon  as  they  sent  him  back  the  leg 
he  had  lost  at  Moscow,  he  would  surrender  the  fortress.  Many 
times  in  my  life,"  continued  he,  "have  I  been  saved  by  soldiers 
and  officers  throwing  themselves  before  me  when  1  was  in  the 
most  imminent  danger.  At  Areola,  when  I  was  advancing. 
Colonel  Meuron,  my  aid-de-camp,  threw  himself  before  me,  co- 
vered me  with  his  body,  and  received  the  wound  which  was  des- 
tined for  me.  He  fell  at  my  feet,  and  his  blood  spouted  up  in 
my  face.  He  gave  his  life  to  preserve  mine.  Never  yet,  I 
believe,  has  there  been  such  devotion  shown  by  soldiers  as  mine 
have  manifested  for  me.  In  all  my  misfortunes,  never  has  the 
soldier,  even  when  expiring,  been  wanting  to  me — never  has 
man  been  served  more  faithfully  by  his  troops.  With  the  last 
drop  of  blood  gushing  out  of  their  veins,  they  exclaimed,  vlve 
V Empereur  P''  (God  save  the  Emperor.) 

I  asked  if  he  had  gained  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  whether  he 
would  have  agreed  to  the  treaty  of  Paris.  Napoleon  replied,  "  I 
would  certainly  have  ratified  it.  I  would  not  have  made  such  a 
peace  myself  Sooner  than  agree  to  much  better  terms,  1  abdi- 
cated before ;  but  finding  it  already  made,  I  would  have  kept  it. 
because  France  had  need  of  repose." 

\Zth. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  orders  to  Count  Las  Cases  to 
dismiss   his   present   servant,  and  to  replace  him   by  a  soldier, 


184  A    V(»ICK    FROM    ST.    IIKI.ENA. 

whom  ho  si'iil  for  thai  purjmst'.  TIk-  Count  lojtlied,  Mint  Sir 
Iludsun  Lowo  had  tho  powor  t<>  take  away  his  servant,  Imt  thjil 
ho  oould  not  ooinpol  him  (Las  Cases)  to  receive  another.  Tliat 
it  woiilil  certainl}  l»o  an  ineonvenience  to  lose  his  servant  in  the 
present  state  of  ill  health  of  his  son  ;  hut  that  if  he  were  taken 
away,  he  would  nut  aeoopt  one  of  Sir  Hudson  Lowe's  choosing. 
•  "ajHain  Poppleton  wrote  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  stating  the  Count's 
disinelination  ;  and  1  informed  him,  that  the  man  he  had  sent  to 
replace  the  Count's  servant,  had  formerly  lieen  employed  at 
Longwood,  arid  turned  away  for  drunkenness.  Sir  Hudson  then 
desired  me  to  tell  Poppleton  that  the  former  servant  might  re- 
main until  he  could  find  one  that  would  answer,  adding,  that  he 
would  look  out  himself  for  a  proper  subject,  which  he  also  de- 
sired me  to  tell  the  Count,  Informed  him  that  it  was  my 
intention  to  call  in  Mr.  Baxter,  in  order  to  have  the  l)enefit  of 
his  advice  in  the  case  of  young  Las  Cases,  which  presented  some 
alarming  appearances. 

Communicated  to  Count  Las  Cases  the  message  I  was  charged 
with  by  Sir  Huds(tn  Lowe.  The  Count  replied,  "  If  the  governor 
had  told  me  that  he  did  not  wish  my  servant  to  remain  with  me, 
or  that  he  would  be  glad  if  I  sent  him  away,  and  that  he  would 
give  me  a  fortnight  to  look  for  another,  I  would  immediately 
have  dismissed  him,  and  most  probably  have  asked  the  governor 
to  send  me  another  ;  but  acting  in  the  manner  he  has  done,  with- 
out saying  a  word  to  me,  I  will  take  no  servant  from  his  hands. 
He  treats  me  as  a  corporal  would  do.  The  admiral,  even  if  dis- 
pleased with  me,  never  would  have  taken  my  servant  away  out 
of  revenge." 

Dined  at  Plantation  House,  in  company  with  the  Marquis 
Montchenu,  who  amu,sed  the  company  with  the  importance  which 
he  attached  to  grande  nais!^ance^  (high  birth,)  relative  to  which  he 
recjunted  some  anecdotes. 

16///. — The  Adamant  transport  arrived  from  the  Cape,  bringing 
news  of  the  arrival  of  Sir  George  Cockburn  in  England,  and  that 
he  had  had  an  audience  with  the  Prince  Regent  on  the  2nd  of 
August. 


1816— NOVEMBER.  ISh 

An  inspector  of  police,  named  Rainsford,  arrived  from  England 
and  the  Cape. 

11th. — The  allowances  for  Longwood  diminished  by  order  of 
Sir  Hudson  Lowe  two  pounds  u(  meat  daily,  in  ccnsequence  of 
the  departure  of  a  servant,  who  had  received  but  one  pound.  A 
bottle  of  wine  also  struck  off. 

The  carters  who  bring  up  the  provisions,  state  that  the  fuiil 
linen  of  Longwood  is  frequently  inspected  by  Sir  Thomas  Reade 
on  its  arrival  in  town.  Countess  Bertrand  sent  down  in  the 
trunk  containing  her  soiled  linen,  some  novels  which  she  had 
borrowed  from  Miss  Chesborough,  before  the  arrival  of  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  on  the  island.  They  were  placed  on  the  top  of 
the  linen,  and  the  trunk  was  unlocked.  Sir  Thomas  Reade  said, 
that  it  was  a  violation  of  the  proclamation,  and  that  Miss  Ches- 
borough should  be  turned  off  the  island.  He  then  examined  the 
countess's  linen,  upon  which  he  made  observations  not  consistent 
with  the  delicacy  or  the  respect  due  to  the  female  sex. 

Mentioned  to  the  emperor  that  I  had  been  informed  he  had 
saved  Marechal  Duroc's  life,  when  seized  and  condemned  to 
death  as  an  emigrant,  during  his  first  campaigns  in  Italy;  which 
was  asserted  to  have  been  the  cause  of  the  great  attachment 
subsequently  displayed  by  Duroc  to  him  until  the  hour  of  his 
death.  Napoleon  looked  surprised,  and  replied,  "  No  such  thing 
— who  told  you  that  tale?"  1  said,  that  I  had  heard  the  Marquis 
Montchenu  repeat  it  at  a  public  dinner.  "There  is  not  a  word 
of  truth  in  it,"  replied  Napoleon.  "  I  took  Duroc  out  of  the 
artillery  train,  when  he  was  a  boy,  and  protected  him  until  his 
death.  But  I  suppose  Montchenu  said  this,  because  Duroc  was 
of  an  old  family,  which,  in  that  booby's  eyes,  is  the  only  source 
of  merit.  He  despises  every  body  who  has  not  as  many  hundred 
years  of  nobility  to  boast  of  as  himself  It  was  such  as  Mont- 
chenu who  were  the  chief  cause  of  the  revolution.  Before  it, 
such  a  man  as  Bertrand,  who  is  worth  an  army  of  Montchenus, 
could  not  even  be  a  sous-lieutenant,  while  vieiix  enfants  (old 
children)  like  him  would  be  generals.  God  help,"  continued  he, 
"  the  nation  that  is  governed  by  such.  In  my  time,  most  of  the 
generals,  of  whose  deeds  France  is  so  proud,  sprung  from  that 


186  A    VOICK    Kl{t>M    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

V(>rv  oliiss  of  plolioiiins  so  iiiucli  (lrs|iisiHl  l)y  liiiu.  ll  smjirisea 
Mif."  ntldod  \h\  "th:it  tlioy  have  jHTmiltod  the  Duchess  of 
Kfg^io  to  W  j>retiiiert'  ilatnc  (fust  ludy)  to  the  Duchess  of  Herri, 
as  lier  husliand  was  once  a  private  soldier,  and  did  not  spring 
from  graude  tmissaiice,"  (high  liirth.)  I  asked  his  oj>inion  of  the 
Duke  of  Iveggio.  "A  brave  man,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  it/it  i. 
/>'tca  testa,  (but  of  little  brains.)  He  has  been  influenced  latterly 
by  his  young  wife,  who  is  of  an  old  family,  whose  vanity  and 
prejudices  she  inherits.  However,"  ci>ntinued  he,  "he  ofl'ered  his 
services  after  my  return  from  Ellta,  and  took  the  oath  <jf  allegiance 
to  me."  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  that  he  was  sincere.  "  It 
might  have  been  so,  signor  medico.  If  I  had  succeeded,  I  dare 
say  he  would  have  been." 

Napoleon  very  busily  employed  in  dictating  his  memoirs  to 
Counts  Bertrand  and  Montholon. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  ol)jected  to  allowing  the  produce  of  the  last 
plate  which  had  been  disposed  of,  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of 
the  French,  alleging  that  it  was  too  large  a  sum,  viz.  295/.,  and 
demanded  an  explanation  of  the  manner  in  which  so  large  a  sum 
of  money  was  to  be  disposed  of  It  appeared  upon  examination, 
that  instead  of  having  295/.  disposable,  there  would  be  in  reality 
only  a  few  pounds,  as  85/.  was  due  to  Marchand,  45/.  to  Cipriani, 
16/.  to  Gentilini,  for  money  advanced  by  them  to  purchase  extra 
articles  of  food,  previous  to  the  sale  of  the  last  plate ;  also  70/. 
to  Mr.  Balcombe's  concern,  10/.  to  Le  Page,  and  20/.  to  Archam- 
baud,  for  fowls,  &c. 

22nd. — Orders  sent  up  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  for  a  fresh  reduc- 
tion in  the  allowance  of  meat  and  wine. 

Saw  Baron  Sturmer  in  the  town,  with  whom  I  had  some  con- 
versation. He  was  very  desirous  to  see  Napoleon,  and  informed 
me  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  in  granting  the  commissioners  per- 
mission to  enter  as  far  as  the  inner  gate  of  Longwood,  had  re 
quired  them  to  pledge  their  honor  that  they  would  not  speak  to 
Napoleon,  without  having  first  obtained  his  permission. 

23rc/. — Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm  arrived  from  the  Cape.  Napo- 
'.eoD  very  anxious  to  obtain  some  newspapers.     Tried  U)  procure 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  187 

some,  but  was  informed  that  the  governor  had  got  all  that  were 
to  be  had. 

25th. — On  my  return  from  town  to  Longwood,  met  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe,  who  was  riding  up  and  down  the  road.  When  I  came 
near  to  his  excellency,  he  observed,  with  an  air  of  triumph, 
"You  will  meet  your  friend  Las  Cases  in  custody."  A  few 
minutes  afterwards,  met  the  Count,  under  charge  of  the  governor's 
aid-de-camp,  Prichard,  on  his  way  to  Hut's  Gate.  It  had  been 
effected  in  the  following  manner  :  About  three  o'clock,  Sir  Hud 
son  Lowe,  accompanied  by  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  Major  Gorrequer, 
and  three  dragoons,  entered  Longwood.  Shortly  afterwards. 
Captain  Blakeney  and  the  minister  of  police  followed  them.  Sir 
Hudson  and  Major  Gorrequer  rode  off  a  little  to  the  left,  while 
the  others  proceeded  to  Captain  Poppleton's  i-oom,  having  first 
ordered  a  corporal  and  party  fiom  the  guard  to  follow  them  up 
to  the  house.  Sir  Thomas  ordered  Captain  Poppleton  to  send 
for  Count  Las  Cases,  who  was  with  Napoleon.  After  they  had 
waited  a  short  time.  Las  Cases  came  out,  and  was  arrested  while 
going  into  his  room  by  Reade  and  the  minister  of  police,  who 
took  possession  of  his  clothes  and  effects.  His  papers  were 
sealed  up  by  his  son,  who  afterwards  proceeded  to  Hut's  Gate 
under  custody,  where  he  I'emained  with  his  father  in  charge  of 
an  officer  of  the  66th  regiment,  with  orders  not  to  be  allowed  to 
see  anybody,  except  the  governor  and  his  staff.  It  appeared  that 
the  Count  had  given  a  letter,  written  upon  silk,  to  Scott,  his 
servant,  with  which  he  was  to  proceed  to  England.  Scott  told 
this  to  his  father,  who  had  him  brought  to  a  Mr.  Barker,  and 
from  thence  to  the  governor,  by  whom  he  was  committed  to 
prison,  after  undergoing  an  examination. 

Saw  Napoleon  in  the  evening,  who  appeared  to  have  been 
wholly  ignorant  of  Las  Cases'  intentions.  "  I  am  convinced," 
said  he,  "  however,  that  there  is  nothing  of  consequence  in  the 
letter,  as  Las  Cases  is  an  honest  man,  and  too  much  attached  to 
me  to  undertake  anything  of  consequence  without  fiist  having 
acquainted  me  with  his  project.  You  may  depend  upon  it  that 
it  is  some  letter  of  complaints  to  Miledi  about  the  conduct  of 
this  governor,  and  the  vexations  which  he  inflicts  upon  us,  or  to 


198  A    VOIi'K    FHoM    SI'.    IIKLKNA. 

his  Icmkor,  as  lie  has  \\>\\i-  ov  live  tliuusaiul  iioiiiuls  in  some 
bankiM-'s  hands  in  London,  which  I  was  tn  have  hail  (nr  my  news- 
silios,  aiul  Ik>  did  not  like  his  letter  to  go  tluough  the  goveriior's 
hands,  as  none  of  us  will  trust  him.  If  Las  Cases  had  made 
his  project  known  to  nie,  I  would  have  sto[>i)ed  him  ;  not  that  I 
disapprove  of  his  emleavoring  to  make  our  situation  known,  l/ut 
I  disaj>prove  of  the  bungling  manner  in  which  he  attempted  it, 
Kor  a  man  of  talent,  like  Las  Cases,  to  make  an  amiiassador  of 
a  slave,  who  could  not  read  or  write,  to  go  upon  a  six  inunths 
embassy  to  England,  where  he  nevir  has  l>ee:i,  knows  nobody, 
Wid  who,  unless  the  governor  was  a  scioccone,  (a  great  fool)  would 
not  be  permilted  to  leave  the  island,  is  to  me  incomprehensible. 
1  can  only  account  for  it  by  supposing,  that  the  weight  of  aftlic- 
tious  which  presses  upon  us,  together  with  the  melancholy  situa- 
tion of  his  son,  condemned  to  die  of  an  incurable  malady,  have 
impaired  his  judgment.  All  this  1  wish  to  be  known.  I  am 
sorry  for  it,  because  people  will  accuse  nie  of  having  been  jirivy 
to  the  plan,  and  will  have  a  pooi'  opinion  of  my  nnderstanding — 
supposing  me  to  have  consented  to  so  shallow  a  plot.  I  would 
have  reconimended  him  to  have  requested  of  some  man  of  honor 
to  make  our  situation  known  in  England,  and  to  have  taken  a 
letter  to  the  Prince  Regent ;  first  asking  him  to  pledge  his  honor 
to  observe  secrecy  if  he  did  not  choose  to  perform  it.  If  he  be- 
trayed us,  so  much  the  worse  for  himself.  Las  Cases  has  with 
him  my  campaigns  in  Italy,  and  all  the  official  correspondence 
between  the  admiral,  governor,  and  Longwood  ;  and  I  am  told 
that  he  has  made  a  journal,  containing  an  account  of  what  passes 
here,  with  many  anecdotes  of  myself.  I  have  desired  Bertrand 
to  go  to  Plantation  House  and  ask  for  them.  It  is  the  least 
interesting  part  of  my  life,  as  it  only  relates  the  commencement 
of  it ;  but  1  should  not  like  this  governor  to  have  it." 

"I  am  sure,"  continued  he,  "that  there  is  nothing  of  conse- 
quence in  Las  Cases'  letter,  or  he  would  have  made  me  ac- 
quainted with  it;  though  I  dare  say  this  *  *  *  *  will  write  a 
hundred  falsehoods  to  England  about  it.  When  in  Paris,  after 
my  return  from  Elba,  I  f(juiid  in  M.  LJlacas' private  papers,  which 
lie   left    bi-hind    when   he    ran    away  from   llic  Tnilleries,  a  lettei 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  139 

which  had  been  written  in  Elba  by  one  of  ray  sister  Pauline's 
chamber-maids,  and  appeared  to  have  been  composed  in  a  mo- 
ment of  anger.  Paulipe  is  very  handsome  and  graceful.  There 
was  a  description  of  her  habits,  of  her  dress,  her  wardrobe,  and 
of  every  thing  that  she  liked  ;  of  how  fond  I  was  of  contributing 
to  her  happiness ;  and  that  I  had  superintended  the  furnishing  of 
her  bovdoir  myself;  what  an  extraordinary  man  I  was;  that  one 
night  I  had  buint  my  finger  dreadfully,  and  had  merely  poured 
a  bottle  of  ink  over  it  without  appearing  to  regard  the  pain,  and 
many  little  betises,  true  enough  perhaps.  This  letter  M.  Blacas 
had  got  interpolated  with  horrid  stories ;  in  fact,  insinuating  thai 
I  slept  with  my  sister;  and  in  the  margin,  in  the  hand-writing  of 
the  inteipolator,  was  written  "to  be  printed.'''' 

2Qth. — Napoleon  in  his  bath.  Asked  if  I  had  heard  any  thing 
more  respecting  Las  Cases  ;  professed  his  sorrow  to  lose  him. 
"  Las  Cases,"  said  he,  "is  the  only  one  of  the  French  who  can 
speak  English  well,  or  explain  It  to  my  satisfaction.  I  cannot 
now  read  an  English  newspaper.  Madame  Bertrand  understands 
English  perfectly  ;  but  you  know  one  cannot  trouble  a  lady. 
Las  Cases  was  necessary  to  me.  Ask  the  admiral  to  interest 
himself  for  that  poor  man,  who,  I  am  convinced,  has  not  said  as 
much  as  there  was  in  Montholon's  letter.  He  will  die  under  all 
these  afflictions,  for  he  has  no  bodily  strength,  and  his  unfor- 
tunate son  will  finish  his  existence  a  little  sooner." 

He  asked  if  Madame  Bertrand  had  not  been  unwell,  and  said 
he  believed  she  suspected  that  her  mother  was  either  dead  or 
most  alarmingly  ill.  "  Those  Creoles,"  said  he,  "  are  veiy  sus- 
ceptible. Josephine  was  subject  to  nervous  attacks  when  in 
affliction.  She  was  really  an  amiable  woman — elegant,  charm- 
ing, and  affable.  Ura  la  dama  la  'p'lii  grazlosa  di  Francia,  (the 
most  accomplished  lady  in  France.)  She  was  the  goddess  of  the 
toilet ;  all  the  fashions  originated  with  her ;  every  thing  she  put 
on  appeared  elegant;  and  she  was  so  kind,  so  humane — she  was 
the  best  woman  in  France." 

He  then  spoke  about  the  distress  prevailing  in  Eiighuid,  and 
riaid,  that  it  was  caused  by  the  abuses  of  the  ministry.  "You 
have  done  wonders,"  said  he  ;  "  you  liiive  effected  impossibilities, 


140  A   VOICK    FHOM    ST.    HKLKNA. 

I  may  >aN  ;  \nil  I  tliiiik  that  Eiigluiui,  I'licuiiiberi-ci  w  itii  a  naliuiiH! 
debt,  which  will  take  forty  years  of  peace  and  eoiuinerce  to  pay 
ofl",  may  be  compared  to  a  man  who  has  drunk  large  quantities 
of  brandy  to  give  him  courage  and  strength ;  l)Ut  afterwards, 
weakiiud  by  the  stimulus  which  had  imparted  energy  liji  :h«> 
moment,  he  totters  and  fnially  falls ;  his  powers  entirely  e.\ 
hausted  by  the  unnatural  means  used  to  excite  them." 

Some  conversation  then  took  place  relative  to  the  Itattle  of 
Austerlitz.  Napoleon  said,  that  prior  to  the  battle,  the  king  of 
Prussia  had  sigjied  the  coalition  against  him.  "Ilaugwitz,"  said 
he,  ''came  to  inform  me  of  it,  and  advised  me  to  think  of  peace. 
I  replied,  '  The  event  of  the  battle  which  is  approaching  will  de- 
cide every  thing.  I  think  that  I  shall  gain  it,  and  if  so,  I  will 
dictate  such  a  peace  as  answers  my  purposes.  Now  1  w  ill  hear 
nothing.'  The  event  answered  my  expectation.:  I  gained  a  vic- 
tory so  decisive,  as  to  enable  me  to  dictate  what  terms  I  pleased." 
1  asked  him  if  Haugwitz  had  been  gained  by  him?  lie  replied, 
"  No  ;  but  he  was  of  opinion  that  Prussia  should  never  play  the 
first  fiddle  [(/iiiocare  il  prhno  ruolo)  in  the  affairs  of  the  continent ; 
that  she  was  only  a  second  rate  power,  and  ought  to  act  as  such. 
Even  if  1  had  lost  the  battle,  I  expected  that  Piussia  would  not 
cordially  join  the  allies,  as  it  would  naturally  be  her  interest  Ut 
preserve  an  equilibrium  in  Europe,  which  would  not  result  from 
her  joining  those  who,  on  my  being  defeated,  would  be  much  the 
strongest.  Besides,  jealousies  ar.d  suspicions  would  arise,  and 
the  allies  would  not  have  trusted  to  the  king  of  Prussia,  who  had 
betrayed  them  before.  I  gave  Hanover  to  the  Prussians,"  con- 
tinued he,  "on  purpose  to  embroil  them  with  you,  produce  j. 
war,  and  shut  you  out  from  the  continent.  The  king  of  Prussia 
was  blockhead  enough  to  believe  that  he  could  keep  Hanover 
and  still  remain  at  peace  with  you.  He  made  war  upon  me 
afterwards  like  a  madman,  induced  by  the  queen  and  Prince 
Louis  with  some  other  young  men,  who  persuaded  him  that 
Prussia  w as  strong  enough,  even  without  Russia.  A  few  weeks 
convinced  him  of  the  contrary."  I  asked,  if  the  king  of  Prussia 
hMi  joined  the  allies  with  his  army  previous  to  Aust'^iiitz,  ^^iial 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  141 

he  would  have  done  1  "  Ah,  Mr.  Doctor,  that  would  have  en- 
tirely altered  the  face  of  things." 

He  eulogized  the  king  of  Saxony,  who  he  said  was  a  truly 
good  man ;  the  king  of  Bavaria,  a  plain  good  man ;  the  king  of 
Wirtemberg,  a  man  of  considerable  talent,  but  unprincipled  and 
wicked.  "Alexander  and  the  latter,"  said  he,  "are  the  only 
sovereigns  in  Europe  possessed  of  talents.  Lord  *  *  *  *  un 
viauvais  si/jet,  un  ugioteur,  (a  bad  subject,  a  mere  jobber.)  While 
negotiating  in  Paris,  he  sent  couriers  away  every  day  to  London, 
for  the  purposes  of  stock-jobbing,  which  was  solely  what  he 
interested  himself  about.  Had  there  been  an  honest  man,  in- 
stead of  an  intriguing  stock-jobber,  it  is  very  likely  the  negotia- 
tion would  have  succeeded.  I  was  much  grieved  afterwards  to 
have  had  any  affairs  with  such  a  contemptible  character."  This 
was  pronounced  with  an  air  of  disdain. 

27 /A. — Napoleon  very  much  concerned  about  the  treatment 
which  Las  Cases  suffered,  and  the  detention  of  his  own  papers. 
He  observed,  that  if  there  had  been  any  plot  in  Las  Cases'  letter, 
the  governor  could  have  perceived  it  in  ten  minutes'  perusal. 
That  in  a  few  moments  he  could  also  see  that  the  campaigns  of 
Italy,  &c.  contained  nothing  treasonable ;  and  that  it  was  con- 
trary to  all  law  to  detain  papers  belonging  to  him  (Napoleon.) 
"  Perhaps,"  said  he,  "  he  will  come  up  here  some  day,  and  say 
that  he  has  received  intimation  that  a  plot  to  effect  my  escape  is 
in  agitation.  What  guarantee  have  I,  that  when  I  have  nearly 
finished  my  history,  he  will  not  come  up  and  seize  the  whole  of 
if?  It  is  true  that  I  can  keep  my  manuscripts  in  my  own  room, 
and  with  a  couple  of  brace  of  pistols  I  can  dispatch  the  first  who 
enters.  I  must  burn  the  whole  of  what  I  have  written.  It 
served  as  an  amusement  to  me  in  this  dismal  abode,  and  might 
perhaps  have  been  interesting  to  the  world,  but  with  this  sbirro 
Siciliano  (Sicilian  spy)  there  is  no  guarantee  nor  security.  He 
violates  every  law,  and  tramples  under  foot  decency,  politeness, 
and  the  common  forms  of  society.  He  came  up  with  a  savage 
joy  beaming  from  his  eyes,  because  he  had  an  opportiuiity  of  in- 
tuiting and  i.ornienting  us.  While  surrounding  the  house  with 
his  staff,  he  reminded  me  of  the  savages  of  the  South  Sea  islands. 


tii  A    \mCK    KKOM    ST.    HELEXA. 

liuncinjj  round  the  prisoiuTs  \Nlnim  tlu'v  wimv  gcing  to  devour. 
Toll  him."  coiitimu'il  lu-,  "  what  1  said  aliout  his  cotiduit."  For 
fi'ur  that  I  should  for<H't,  lu-  repcati-d  his  t-xprcssioiis  ahoiit  the 
sjiviuji's  a  second  time,  and  made  me  say  it  after  him. 

Went  to  Hut's  Gate  to  see  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  hat)  sent  a 
ilragoon  tor  me.  On  my  arrival,  his  exeellency  told  iiie,  that  the 
lampaigns  of  Italy,  and  the  oftieial  documents,  would  lie  siiit  to 
Longwood  the  following  day,  and  desired  me  to  tell  (imeral 
lioiiaparte  that  all  his  papers  hail  Keen  kept  saen  d,  and  that  all 
his  personal  ones  should  lie  returned.  As  to  Las  Cases' journal, 
he  said  that  he  would  have  some  conversation  with  Count  Ber- 
trand  concerning  it. 

I  informed  his  excellency  that  Xapolcfai  had  disclaimed  all 
knowledge  of  the  jirtject  which  Count  Las  Cases  had  formed, 
and  added  my  own  conviction,  that  until  the  moment  that  the 
letters  had  l)ccn  arrested,  he  wa.s  wholly  ignorant  of  his  inten- 
tions. Sir  Hudson  replied,  that  he  acquitted  him  of  any  know- 
ledge of  the  matter,  which  he  desired  me  to  tell  him,  and  con- 
gratulated himself  much  on  his  own  discernment  in  the  opinion 
he  had  formed  of  Count  Las  Cases'  servant. 

Saw  young  Las  Cases  afterwards,  who  was  very  unwell.  During 
the  time  that  I  was  examining  him  professionally,  Sir  Thomas 
Reade  remained  in  the  room.  On  my  going  out,  Sir  Thomas 
said,  that  "  old  Las  Cases  had  been  so  impertinent  to  the  gov- 
ernor, that  the  latter  had  ordered  that  he  should  not  be  permitted 
to  see  any  person,  unless  in  the  presence  of  some  of  the  governor's 
staff." 

Or.  my  return,  explained  to  Napoleon  the  governor's  message 
•iiid  informed  him  that  1  had  seen  part  of  his  papers  sealed  up 
When  I  said  that  the  governor  had  acquitted  him  of  any  partici 
pation  in  the  business  ;  "  if,"  said  he,  '•  1  had  known  of  it.  anfl 
had  not  put  a  stop  to  it,  I  would  have  been  worse  than  a  ^^a^zc 
da  catena,  (lunatic).  I  suppose  that  he  thinks  that  there  was 
some  plot  for  my  escape.  I  can  safely  say  that  I  left  Elba  with 
eight  hundred  men,  and  arrived  at  Paris,  through  France,  with 
out  any  other  plot  than  that  of  knowing  the  sentimenta  of  'ne 
French  nation." 


1816 — NOVEMBER.  143 

He  then  sent  for  St.  Denis,  who  had  copied  Las  Cases'  journal, 
And  asked  him  the  nature  of  it.  St.  Denis  replied  that  it  was  a 
cvirnal  of  everything  remarkable  that  had  taken  place  since  the 
embarkation  on  board  of  the  Bellerophon  ;  and  contained  divers 
anecdotes  of  different  persons,  of  Sir  George  Cockburn,"  &o. 
"How  is  he  treated  ?"  says  Napoleon,  "  Comme  fa,  Sire,  (indil 
ferently).  Has  he  said  that  I  called  him  a  requi?i,  (shark  !") 
''  Yes,  Sire."  "  Sir  George  Bingham  ?"  "  Very  well  spoken  of, 
also  Colonel  Wilks."  "  Is  there  anything  to  compromise  any 
person"?"  (naming  three  or  four.)  "No,  Sire."  ''Anything 
about  Admiral  Malcolm  ?"  "Yes,  Sire."  "Does  it  say  that  1 
observed.  Behold  the  countenance  of  a  real  Englishman  ?"  "  Yes, 
Sire,  he  is  very  well  treated."  "Anything  about  the  governor'?" 
"A  great  deal.  Sire,"  replied  St.  Denis,  who  could  not  help 
smiling.  "  Does  it  say  that  1  said,  C^est  un  hotnme  ignoble,  (he 
is  a  vile  man,)  and  that  his  face  was  the  most  ignoble  I  had  ever 
seen  ?"  St.  Denis  replied  in  the  affirmative,  but  added,  that  his 
expressions  were  very  frequently  moderated.  Napoleon  asked  if 
the  anecdote  of  the  coffee-cup  was  in  it :  St.  Denis  replied,  he 
did  not  recollect  it.  "  Does  it  say  that  I  called  him  sbire  Sicilien  f 
"  Oui,  Sire."  (Yes,  sir.)  "  Cest  son  nom,^''  (that  is  his  name) 
said  the  emperor. 

Napoleon  conversed  about  his  brother  Joseph,  whom  he  de- 
scribed as  being  a  most  excellent  character.  "  His  virtues  and 
talents  are  those  of  a  private  character  ;  and  for  such,  nature 
intended  him  :  he  is  too  good  to  be  a  great  man.  He  has  no 
ambition.  He  is  very  like  me  in  person,  but  handsomer.  Hi' 
is  extremely  well  informed,  but  his  learning  is  not  that  which  i> 
fitted  for  a  kiing  ;  nor  is  he  capable  of  commanding  an  army." 

29/A. — Having  been  unwell  for  some  days  with  a  liver  com- 
plaint, a  disease  extremely  prevalent,  and  frequently  fatal  in  the 
island  ;  and  finding  the  symptoms  considerably  aggravated  by 
tne  frequent  journeys  I  was  obliged  to  make  to  town  and  Plan- 
tation House,  I  felt  it  necessary  to  apply  to  Dr.  M'Lean  of  the 
53d  regiment  to  bleed  me  to  a  very  large  extent.  Before  the 
ftbatraction  of  blood  was  well  over,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  into 
roy  apartment.     I  informed  him  that  Napoleon  had  said,  "What 


lU  A    VOICK    KHOM    ST.    UKLKNA. 

cuaraiiti'f  can  I  liavf  that  lie  will  iu»t  coiin'  up  soino  day,  wh»n  i 
have  nearly  fniislu'd  my  history,  and  seize  it  under  some  pro- 
text  ?"  whieh  he  had  desireil  might  be  communicated  to  him. 
Sir  Hudson  replied,  "The  iruarantee  of  his  jfood  conduct!" 

Shortly  afterwards,  I  saw  Naj)oleon  in  his  dressing-room,  lie 
was  much  j>leased  at  having  received  the  campaigns  of  Ital},  and 
added  that  he  would  rochiim  the  other  papers.  "  This  governor," 
said  he,  "if  he  had  any  delicacy,  would  not  have  contimied  to 
read  a  work  in  which  his  conduct  was  depictt-d  in  its  true  ligiit. 
He  must  have  been  little  satisfied  with  the  comparisons  made 
between  Cockburn  and  him,  especially  where  it  is  mentioned 
that  1  said  the  admiral  was  rough,  but  incapable  of  a  mean  ac- 
tion ;  but  that  his  successor  was  capable  of  every  thing  that  was 
***  and  ***.  I  am  glad,  however,  that  he  has  read  it,  because 
he  will  see  the  real  opinion  that  we  have  of  him,"  While  he 
was  speaking,  my  vision  became  indistinct,  every  thing  appeared 
to  swim  before  my  eyes,  and  I  fell  upon  the  floor  in  a  fainting  lit. 
When  I  recovered  my  senses  and  opened  my  eyes,  the  first  oitject 
which  presented  itself  to  my  view,  I  shall  never  forget  :  it  was 
the  countenance  of  Napoleon,  bending  over  my  face,  and  regard- 
ing me  with  an  expression  of  great  concern  and  anxiety.  With 
one  hand  he  was  opening  my  shirt  collar,  and  with  the  other, 
holding  a  bottle  of  vinaigre  de  quutre  voleurs  (double  distilled 
vinegar)  to  my  nostrils.  He  had  taken  off  my  cravat,  and  dash- 
ed the  contents  of  a  bottle  of  eau  de  Cologne  (Cologne  water) 
over  my  face.  "  When  I  saw  you  fall,"  said  he,  "  1  at  first 
thought  that  your  foot  had  slipped ;  but  seeing  you  remain  with- 
out motion,  I  apprehended  that  it  was  a  fit  of  apoplexy  ;  observ- 
ing, however,  that  your  face  was  the  color  of  death,  your  lips 
white,  and  without  motion,  and  no  evident  respiration  or  bloated 
countenance,  I  concluded  directly  that  it  was  a  fit  of  syncope,  or 
that  your  soul  had  depar,;ed."  Marchand  now^  came  into  the 
room,  whom  he  ordered  to  give  me  some  orange-flower  water, 
which  was  a  favorite  remedy  of  his.  When  he  saw  me  fall,  iu 
his  haste  he  broke  the  bell  ribband.  He  told  me  that  he  had 
lifted  me  up,  placed  me  in  a  chair,  t(jrn  ofl"  my  eiavat.  dashed 
Home  (au  de  Cologne  and  water  over  my  face,  &c.,  and  asked  if 


1816 — DECEMBER.  145 

he  had  done  right.  I  informed  him  that  he  had  done  every  thing 
proper,  and  as  a  surgeon  would  have  done  under  similar  circum- 
stances ;  except  that  instead  of  allowing  me  to  remain  in  a  re- 
cumbent posture,  he  had  placed  me  in  a  chair.  When  I  was 
leaving  the  room,  1  heard  him  tell  Marchand  in  an  under-voice, 
to  follow  me,  for  fear  I  should  have  another  fit. 

1st  December. — Napoleon,  after  some  inquiries  touching  my 
health,  and  the  effects  of  the  mercury  upon  me,  observed  that  he 
wished  Las  Cases  to  go  away,  as  three  or  four  months  stay  in  St. 
Helena  would  be  of  little  utility  either  to  Las  Cases  or  himself. 
"  The  next,"  said  he,  "  to  be  removed  under  some  pretext,  will 
be  Montholon,  as  they  see  that  he  is  a  most  useful  and  consoling 
friend  to  me,  and  that  he  always  endeavors  to  anticipate  my 
wants.  I  am  less  unfortunate  than  them.  I  see  nobody ;  they 
are  subject  to  daily  insults  and  vexations.  They  cannot  speak, 
they  cannot  write,  they  cannot  stir  out  without  submitting  to 
degrading  restrictions.  I  am  sorry  that  two  months  ago  they  did 
not  all  go.  I  have  sufficient  force  to  resist  alone  against  all  this 
tyranny.  It  is  only  prolonging  their  agony  to  keep  them  here  a 
few  months  longer.  After  they  have  been  taken  away,  you  will 
be  sent  off,  et  alors  le  crime  sera  co7isomme^  (and  then  the  crime 
will  be  consummated.)  They  are  subject  to  every  caprice  which 
arbitrary  power  chooses  to  inflict,  and  are  not  protected  by  any 
laws.  He  is  at  once  geolier,  governor,  accuser,  judge,  and  some- 
times executioner ;  for  example,  when  he  seized  that  East  Indian 
servant,  who  was  recommended  by  that  brave  homyne,  (brave 
man,)  Colonel  Skelton,  to  General  Montholon,  as  a  good  servant. 
He  came  up  here  nnd  seized  the  man  with  his  own  hands  under 
my  windows.  He  did  justice  to  himself  certainly  ;  le  metier  (Vun 
shire  lui  convieni  beaucoup  mieux  que  celui  de  representant  d\ine 
grande  natioti.  (The  duty  of  a  spy  agrees  much  better  with  him 
than  that  of  representing  a  great  nation.)  A  soldier  is  better 
off  than  they  are,  as,  if  he  is  accused,  he  must  be  tried  according 
to  known  forms  before  he  can  be  punished.  In  the  worst  dun- 
geon in  England,  a  prisoner  is  nof,  denied  printed  papers  and 
books.  Except  obliging  me  to  see  him,  he  bad  done  ewary  thing 
to  annoy  me." 

7 


146  A    V«»:CK    FKt»M    SI.    IIKLKNA. 

"Instead  of  allowing  us  tn  lie  siiljfct  [n  ili(>  caiiricf  of  nn  in- 
dividual," added  he,  "  there  ought  to  lie  a  couneil  eotnposed  of 
the  admiral,  Sir  George  Hinghani,  and  two  menihers  of  the 
couiieil  to  deltate  and  doeide  upon  the  measures  necessary  to  be 
adoptrd  towards  \is." 

•"'■'/• — Naj>olet.n  sent  for  me  at  one  o'clock,  P.  M.  Found 
him  in  lied  suflering  from  headache  and  general  uneasiness,  which 
had  Keen  j^receded  hy  shiverings.  Had  a  little  fever  during  the 
night.  I  recommended  some  remedies,  and  pointed  out  in  strong 
terms  the  necessity  there  was  of  his  Collowing  my  advice,  and 
especially  in  taking  exercise,  and  my  iirm  conviction,  that  in  the 
contrary  case,  he  would  soon  be  seized  with  an  alarming  fit  of 
illness.  "■  Tandi  vieglio,''^  replied  Napoleon;  "-piii  presto  si 
piira.''     (So  much  the  better,  it  will  be  the  sooner  finished.) 

4th. — Wrote  an  account  of  the  state  of  Napoleon's  health,  and 
of  the  advice  which  I  had  given  him,  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 
Napoleon  somewhat  better, — Observed  that  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  follow  the  recommendation  I  had  given,  to  take  exer- 
cise ;  first,  on  account  of  the  restrictions,  and  next,  the  furious 
wind,  or  when  that  was  calmed,  the  want  of  shade  at  Long  wood 
to  protect  him  from  the  rays  of  the  tropical  sun.  He  gave  his 
opinions  about  Moreau  and  others.  "  Moreau,"  said  he,  "  was 
an  excellent  general  of  division,  but  not  fit  to  command  a  large 
army.  With  a  hundred  thousand  men,  Moreau  would  divide  his 
army  in  different  positions,  covering  roads,  and  would  not  do 
more  than  if  he  had  only  thirty  thousand.  He  did  not  kiiow 
hi>w  to  profit  either  by  the  number  of  his  troops,  or  by  their 
positions.  Very  calm  and  cool  in  the  field,  he  was  more  collected 
and  better  able  to  command  in  the  heat  of  an  action  than  to 
make  dispositions  prior  to  it.  He  was  often  seen  smoking  his 
pipe  in  battle,  Moreau  was  not  naturally  a  man  of  a  bad  heart; 
un  bo/i  vivaut,  7naiii  il  ii'avait  pas  beu^icovp  de  caractere.  (One 
who  lived  well,  but  had  no  character.)  He  was  led  away  by 
his  wife  and  another  intriguing  Creole.  His  having  joined 
Pichegru  and  Georges  in  the  conspiracy,  and  subscijucntly  having 
closed  his  life  tightnig  against  his  country,  will  ever  disgrace  his 
memory.     As  a  general,  Moreau  was  infinitely  inferior  to  Desaix, 


1816 — DECEMBER.  147 

or  to  Kleber,  or  even  to  Soult.  Of  all  the  generals  1  ever  had 
under  me,  Desaix  and  Kleber  possessed  the  greatest  talents; 
especially  Desaix,  as  Kleber  only  loved  glory,  inasmuch  as  it 
v^'as  the  means  of  procuring  him  riches  and  pleasures,  whereas 
Desaix  loved  glory  for  itself  and  despised  every  thing  else. 
Desaix  was  wholly  wrapped  up  in  war  and  glory.  To  hiin 
riches  and  pleasure  were  valueless,  nor  did  he  give  them  a  m<.i 
ment's  thought.  He  was  a  little  black-looking  man,  about  an 
inch  shorter  than  I  am,  always  badly  dressed,  sometimes  even 
ragged,  and  despising  comfort  or  convenience.  When  in  Egypt, 
I  made  him  a  present  of  a  complete  field-equipage  several  times, 
but  he  always  lost  it.  Wrapped  up  in  a  cloak,  Desaix  threw 
himself  under  a  gun,  and  slept  as  contentedly  as  if  he  were  in  a 
palace.  For  him,  luxury  had  no  charms.  Upright  and  honest 
in  all  his  proceedings,  he  was  called  by  the  Arabs  the  just  sultan. 
He  was  intended  by  nature  for  a  great  general.  Kleber  and 
Desaix  were  a  loss  irreparable  to  France.  Had  Kleber  lived, 
your  army  in  Egypt  would  have  perished.  Had  that  imbecile 
Menou  attacked  you  on  your  landing  with  twenty  thousand  men, 
as  he  might  have  done,  instead  of  the  division  Lanusse,  your 
army  would  have  been  only  a  meal  for  them.  Your  army  was 
seventeen  or  eighteen  thousand  strong,  without  cavalry. 

"  Lasnes,  when  I  first  took  him  by  the  hand,  Avas  an  ignoran- 
iaccio,  (ignoramus).  His  education  had  been  much  neglected. 
However,  he  improved  greatly  ;  and  to  judge  from  the  astonish- 
ing progress  he  made,  he  would  have  been  a  general  of  the  first 
class.  He  had  great  experience  in  war.  He  had  been  in  fifty- 
four  pitched  battles,  and  in  three  hundred  combats  of  differeir 
kinds.  He  was  a  man  of  uncommon  bravery — cool  in  the  midsl 
of  fire  ;  and  possessed  of  a  clear,  penetrating  eye,  ready  to  take 
advantage  of  any  opportunity  which  might  present  itself.  Vio- 
lent and  hasty  in  his  expressions,  sometimes  even  in  my  pre- 
sence. He  was  ardently  attached  to  me.  In  the  midst  of  his 
auger  he  would  not  suffer  any  person  to  join  him  in  his  remarks. 
On  that  account,  when  he  was  in  a  choleric  mood,  it  was  danger- 
ous to  speak  to  him,  as  he  used  to  come  to  me  in  his  rage,  and 


148  A    VOKK    KKOM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

sav  tliat  siuh  and  siioh  porsoiis  wfie  not  to  lie  trusted.  As  a 
general,  he  wjis  greatlv  superior  to  Moreau,  or  to  Soult." 

"  Masseiui,"  said  ho,  "was  a  man  of  superior  talent.  He 
generally,  however,  made  bad  dispositions  previous  to  a  battle; 
and  it  was  not  until  the  dead  beiiaii  to  fall  about  him,  that  he 
began  to  act  with  that  judgment  which  he  ought  to  have  dis- 
played before.  In  the  midst  of  the  dying  and  the  dead,  of  balls 
sweeping  away  those  who  eneircleil  him,  then  Massena  was  hiui- 
self — gave  his  orders,  and  made  his  dispositions  with  the  greatest 
sang  fhiid  and  judgment.  This  is,  la  vera  nobilta  di  sanyuc*  It 
was  truly  said  of  Massena,  that  he  never  began  to  act  with  judg- 
ment until  the  battle  was  going  against  him.  He  was,  however, 
MM  vo/eur,  (a  roblter).  He  went  halves  along  with  the  contrac- 
tors and  commissaries  of  the  army.  I  signified  to  him  often, 
that  if  he  would  discontinue  his  speculations,  I  would  make  him 
a  present  of  eight  hundred  thousand  or  a  million  of  francs  ;  but 
he  had  acquired  such  a  habit,  that  he  could  not  keep  his  hands 
from  money.  On  this  account  he  was  hated  by  the  soldiers,  who 
mutinied  against  him  three  or  four  times.  However,  considering 
the  circumstances  of  the  times,  he  was  precious  ;  and  had  not 
his  bright  parts  been  soiled  with  the  vice  of  avarice,  he  would 
have  been  a  great  man." 

"  Pichegru,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  was  repetitieur  (private 
teacher)  at  Brienne,  and  instructed  me  in  mathematics,  when  I 
was  about  ten  years  old.  He  possessed  considerable  knowledge 
in  that  science.  As  a  general,  Pichegru  was  a  man  of  no  ordi- 
nary talent,  far  superior  to  Moreau,  although  he  had  never  done 
anything  extraordinarily  great,  as  the  success  of  the  campaigns  in 
Holland  was  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  the  battle  of  Fleurus. 
Pichegru,  after  he  had  united  himself  to  the  Bourbons,  sacrificed 
the  lives  of  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  of  his  soldiers,  by 
throwing  them  purposely  into  the  enemy's  hands,  whom  he  had 
informed  beforehand  of  his  intentions.  He  had  a  dispute  once 
with  Kleber,  at  a  time  when,  instead  of  marching  his  army  upon 
Mayence,  as  he  ought  to  have  done,  he  marched  the  greatest  part 
of  them  to  another  point,  where  Kleber  observed  that  it  would 

*  True  nobleness  of  blood. 


1816 —DECEMBER.  149 

<jnly  be  necessary  to  send  the  ambulances  with  a  few  men  to 
make  a  show.  At  that  time,  it  was  thought  to  be  imbecility, 
but  afterwards  it  was  discovered  to  be  treachery.  One  of  Piche- 
gru's  projects  was  for  Louis  to  come  and  join  the  army  under 
his  command,  and  to  cause  him&elf  to  be  proclaimed  king.  In 
order  to  ensure  success,  he  signified  to  Louis  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  bring  a  large  sum  of  money  ;  as  he  said  that 
Vive  le  Hoi  lay  at  the  bottom  of  the  goaier,  and  that  it  would 
require  a  great  quantity  of  wine  to  bring  it  (Jut  of  the  mouth. 
If  Louis  had  come,"  continued  he,  "  he  would  have  been  shot." 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  to  Longwood,  and  observed  to  me, 
that  General  Bonaparte  had  adopted  a  very  bad  mode  of  proce- 
dure, by  in  a  manner  declaring  war  against  him,  (Sir  Hudson,) 
when  he  was  the  only  person  who  had  it  in  his  power  to  render 
him  a  service,  or  to  make  his  situation  comfortable.  Count  Las 
Cases  had,  he  said,  much  altered  his  opinion  concerning  him 
since  the  intercourse  they  had  had  together,  and  no  longer  looked 
upon  him  in  the  light  of  an  arbitrary  tyrant,  who  did  every  thing 
to  annoy  them  ;  which  change  of  opinion  the  Count  had  signified 
to  him  ;  and  had  confessed  that  they  had  represented  every  thing 
to  General  Boraparte  "  jij«r  wi  voile  de  sa/;^,"*  (through  a  bloody 
veil.)  That  I  had  better  try  to  remove  any  false  impressions 
under  which  General  Bonaparte  might  labor.  He  then  asked  me 
if  I  had  ever  signified  to  General  Bonaparte,  that  the  French  who 
were  with  him,  only  wanted  to  make  an  instrument  of  him  to 
aggrandize  themselves,  without  caring  by  what  means  they 
effected  if?  I  replied,  that  certainly  I  never  had  signified  any 
thing  of  the  kind  to  him  ;  but  that  I  had  always  labored  to  unde- 
ceive him,  whenever  I  perceived  that  he  was  misinformed.  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  said,  that  the  ministers  would  hold  me  in  some 
degree  accountable,  that  General  Bonaparte  was  correctly  informed 
of  every  thing  ;  and  that  no  false  colorings,  misrepresentations, 
or  malicious  constructions  were  put  upon  what  was  done.  His 
excellency  then  made  some  remarks  upon  "  General  Bonaparte's 
constantly  confining  himself  to  his  room,"  and  asked  what  I  sup- 
posed would  induce  him  to  go  out?  I  replied  an  enlargement  of 

•  Sir  Hudson  Lowe's  own  words. 


150  A    VOICK   FKOM    .ST.    IlKI-KNA. 

his  bouiitlarios,  taking  ofl'soim-  of  tlio  roslrii'tioiis,  and  giving  hin, 
a  house  at  tho  othor  side  of  iho  island.  That  h»>  had  froqiiciilly 
eoiiijdaini'd  thai  he  lould  not  walk  out  at  Loiigwood,  without 
getting  a  pain  in  his  lioad  from  the  sun,  as  there  was  no  shade; 
or  if  the  rays  of  the  sun  were  ohseured,  his  cheek  got  inflamed  ; 
or  a  aitarrh  was  produced  by  the  sharp  wind  blowing  over  at 
elevated  spot  without  shelter.  I  observed,  also,  that  the  allow- 
ance of  provision  was  totally  insufllcient,  as  the  French  laid  out 
seven  or  eight  pounds  a  day,  in  articles  which  were  indispensable; 
which  1  enumerated.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  answered,  "  th;it  with 
respect  to  this  last,  he  had  exceeded  l)y  one  half  what  was 
allowed  by  the  ministers,  who  were  ausweral)le  to  parliament 
that  the  expenses  of  Longwuod  did  not  exceed  eight  thousand 
pounds  per  annum,  and  that  perhaps  he  (Sir  Hudson)  might  be 
obliged  hereafter  to  pay  the  surplus  out  of  his  own  salary.  That 
his  instructions  were  much  more  rigid  than  those  of  his  prede- 
cessor. But  unfortunately  General  Bonaparte  had  thought  that 
he  had  come  out  furnished  with  instructions  of  a  much  more 
lenient  nature  than  those  of  the  admiral ;  when  the  fact  was 
directly  the  reverse.  That  all  his  actions  had  been  misconstrued 
and  misrepresented,  and  malicious  constructions  put  upon  them. 
That  the  British  government  did  not  wish  to  render  General 
Bonaparte's  existence  miserable,  or  to  torture  him.  That  it  was 
not  so  much  himself  (Bonaparte)  they  were  afraid  of;  but  that 
turbulent  and  disaffected  people  in  Europe  would  make  use  of 
his  name  and  influence,  to  excite  rebellion  and  disturbances  in 
France,  and  elsewhere,  in  order  to  aggrandize  themselves,  and 
otherwise  answer  their  own  purposes;  also,  that  Las  Cases  was 
very  well  treated,  and  wanted  for  nothing."  This  he  desired  I 
would  communicate  to  General  Bonaparte. 

I  communicated  some  of  those  remarks  of  the  governor's  to 
Napoleon,  who  replied,  "  I  do  not  believe  that  he  acts  according 
•^o  his  instructions;  or  if  he  does,  he  has  disgraced  himself  l»y 
accepting  a  dishonoralde  employment.  A  government  two  thou- 
sand leagues  ofl',  and  ignorant  of  the  localities  of  the  island,  can 
never  give  orders  in  detail ;  that  they  can  only  give  general  and 
discretionary  ones.     They  have  only  directed  him  to  adopt  e:-ery 


1816  —DECEMBER.  151 

measure  he  thinks  necessary  to  prevent  my  escape.  Instead  of 
that,  I  am  treated  in  a  manner  dishonorable  to  humanity.  To 
kill  and  bury  a  man  is  well  understood  ;  but  this  slow  torture, 
this  killing  in  detail,  is  much  less  humane  than  if  they  ordered 
me  to  be  shot  at  once.  I  have  often  heard,"  continued  he,  "  of 
the  tyranny  and  oppression  practiced  in  your  colonies ;  but  ! 
never  thought  that  there  could  exist  such  violations  of  law  and 
of  justice,  as  are  practiced  here.  From  what  I  have  seen  of  you 
English,  I  think  there  is  not  a  nation  on  earth  more  enslaved  ; 
as  I  told  Colonel  Wilks,  the  former  governor  of  this  island." 

Here  I  observed,  that  I  begged  of  him  not  to  form  his  opinion 
of  the  English  nation  by  a  little  colony,  placed  under  peculiar 
circumstances,  and  subject  to  military  law  ;  that  to  judge  cor- 
rectly of  England,  one  must  be  there^  and  there  he  would  see  how 
little  a  person  with  a  brown,  or  a  black  coat,  cared  about  the 
ministers.  "  So  said  the  old  colonel,"  replied  Napoleon  ;  "  but  I 
only  speak  of  you  as  I  have  seen  you,  and  I  find  you  to  be  the 
greatest  slaves  upon  earth  :  all  trembling  with  fear  at  the  sight 
of  that  governor.  There  is  Sir  George  Bingham,  who  is  a  well- 
disposed  man,  yet  he  is  so  much  afraid,  that  he  will  not  come 
and  see  me,  through  fear  that  he  might  give  umbrage  to  the 
governor  :  the  rest  of  the  officers  run  away  at  the  sight  of  us." 
I  observed  that  it  was  not  fear,  but  delicacy,  which  prevented  Sir 
George  Bingham  from  coming,  and  that  as  to  the  other  officers, 
they  must  obey  the  orders  which  they  had  received.  Napoleon 
replied,  "  If  they  were  French  officers,  they  would  not  be  afraid 
of  expressing  their  opinion  as  to  the  barbarity  of  the  treatment, 
pursued  here  ;  and  a  French  general,  second  in  command,  would, 
if  he  saw  his  country  dishonored  in  the  manner  yours  is,  write  a 
complaint  of  it  himself  to  his  government.  As  to  myself," 
continued  he,  "  I  would  never  make  a  complaint  if  I  did  not 
know,  that  were  an  inquiry  demanded  by  the  nation,  your  minis- 
ters would  say,  '  He  has  never  complained,  and  therefore  he  is 
conscious  that  he  is  well  treated,  and  that  thei-c  are  no  grounds 
for  it.'  Otherwise,  I  should  conceive  it  degrading  to  me  to  utter 
a  word  ;  though  I  am  so  disgusted  with  the  conduct  of  this  sbirro, 
(spy)  that  I  should,  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  receive  the  inti- 


162  A  vmcE  FivdM  sr.  iiklena. 

mation  thai  orders  IjjuI  arrivi'd  tu  shoot   mo, — I  should  t.v>teem  it 
a  blessing." 

I  observed,  that  Sir  Hudson  liowe  had  professed  himself  very 
desirous  to  aeeommodatc  and  arranj^e  matters  in  an  ainienble 
nuuiner.  Napoleon  replied,  "  If  he  w  ishes  to  accommodate  mat 
lers,  let  him  juit  things  upon  the  same  footing  they  were  during 
the  time  of  Admiral  Cockburn.  Let  no  person  be  permitted  to 
enter  here  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  me,  without  a  letter  from 
Bertrand.  If  he  does  not  like  to  give  Bertrand  liberty  to  pass 
people  in,  let  him  make  out  a  list  himself  of  such  persons  in  the 
island  as  he  will  allow  to  visit  me,  and  send  it  to  Bertrand,  and 
let  the  latter  have  the  power  to  grant  them  permission  to  enter, 
and  to  write  to  them.  When  strangers  arrive,  in  like  manner 
let  him  make  out  a  list  of  such  persons  as  he  will  permit  to  see 
us,  and  during  their  stay,  let  them  be  allowed  to  visit  with  Ber- 
trand's  pass.  Perhaps  I  would  see  very  few  of  them,  as  it  is 
difficult  to  distinguish  between  those  who  come  up  to  see  me  as 
they  would  a  wild  boar,  and  others,  who  are  actuated  by  motives 
of  respect,  l)ut  still,  I  should  like  to  have  the  privilege.  It  is  for 
him  to  accommodate  if  he  likes  ;  he  has  the  power — I  have  none; 
I  am  not  governor;  I  have  no  places  to  give  away.  Let  him 
takeoff  his  prohibitions,  that  I  shall  not  quit  the  high-road,  or 
speak  to  a  lady  if  I  meet  one.  In  a  few  words,  che  si  comporti 
bene  verso  di  me,  (let  him  behave  well  to  me).  If  he  does  not 
choose  to  treat  me  like  a  man,  che  ha  giuocato  un  ruolo  net  mondo 
come  quel  che  ho  giuocato  io,  (if  he  does  not  choose  to  treat  me 
like  a  man  who  had  played  the  part  in  life  I  have)  let  him  not 
treat  me  worse  than  a  galley-slave  or  a  condemned  criminal,  as 
those  are  not  prohibited  to  speak.  Let  him  do  this,  and  then  I 
will  say  that  he  acted  at  first  inconsiderately,  through  fear  of  my 
escaping,  but  that  when  he  saw  his  error,  he  was  not  ashamed  to 
alter  his  treatment.  Then  I  will  say,  that  I  formed  a  hasty  opi- 
nion of  him  ;  that  1  have  been  mistaken.  Ma  siete  un  bambino, 
doiiore,  (you  are  a  child,  doctor)  ;  you  have  too  good  an  opinion 
of  mankind.  This  man  is  not  sincere.  I  believe  the  opinion  I 
first  formed  of  him  is  correct,  that  he  is  a  man  whose  natural 
badness  is  increased   by  suspicion  and  diead  of  the  responsibility 


1816 — DECEMBER.  153 

of  the  situation  which  he  holds,  Cest  un  homrne  retors,  abject  et 
tout  a  fait  andessous  de  sou  emploi,  (he  is  an  artful  man,  abject, 
and  entirely  unworthy  his  employment).  I  would  wager  my 
life,"  continued  he,  "  that  if  I  sent  for  Sir  George  Bingham,  or 
the  admiral,  to  ride  out  with  me,  before  I  had  gone  out  three 
times  with  either  the  one  or  the  other,  this  governor  would  make 
some  insinuations  to  them,  which  would  render  me  liable  to  be 
affronted  by  their  refusing  to  accompany  me  any  longer.  He 
says,  that  Las  Cases  is  well  treated,  and  wants  for  nothing ;  be- 
cause he  does  not  starve  him.  Cest  un  honime  vraiment  ignoble^ 
(he  is  indeed  a  base  man).  He  degrades  his  own  species  ;  he 
pays  no  attention  to  the  moral  wants  which  distinguish  the  man 
from  the  brute  ;  he  only  looks  to  the  physical  and  grosser  ones. 
Just  as  if  Las  Cases  were  a  horse,  or  an  ass,  and  that  a  bundle 
of  hay  was  sufficient  to  entitle  him  to  say  he  is  happy  ;  because 
his  belly  was  full,  therefore  all  his  wants  were  satisfied." 

bth. — Had  a  long  conversation  with  the  emperor  in  his  bath. 
Asked  his  opinion  of  the  Emperor  Alexander,  "  Cest  un  homme 
extrememeiit  faux ;  un  Grec  du  bas  empire.''''  (He  is  an  hypocritical 
man  ;  a  Greek  of  the  lower  empire,)  replied  Napoleon.  "  He  is 
the  only  one  of  the  three,*  who  has  any  talent.  He  is  plausible, 
a  great  dissimulator,  very  ambitious,  and  a  man  who  studies  tc 
make  himself  popular.  It  is  his  foible  to  believe  himself  skilled 
in  the  art  of  war,  and  he  likes  nothing  so  well  as  to  be  compli- 
mented upon  it,  though  every  thing  that  originated  with  himself 
relative  to  military  operations,  was  ill-judged  and  absurd.  At 
Tilsit,  Alexander  and  the  King  of  Prussia  used  frequently  to  oc- 
cupy themselves  in  contriving  dresses  for  dragoons  ;  debating  upon 
what  button  the  crosses  of  the  orders  ought  to  be  hung,  and  such 
other  fooleries.  They  fancied  themselves  on  an  equality  with 
the  best  generals  in  Europe,  because  they  knew  how  many  rows 
of  buttons  there  were  upon  a  dragoon's  jacket.  I  could  scarcely 
keep  from  laughing  sometimes,  when  I  heard  them  discussing 
these  coglioiierie  (trifles)  with  as  nmch  gravity  and  earni'stness  as 
if  they  were  planning  an  impending  action  between  two  hundred 
thousand  men.     However,  I  encouraged  them  in  their  arguments, 

*  Alexander,  Francis,  and  the  King  of  Prussift. 

7* 


154  A   VOICE    FROM   ST.    HELENA. 

as  I  saw  it  \\:is  tluir  woak  point.  Wo  rudo  out  every  day  toge 
llur.  The  king  of  Prussia  was  une  bite,  et  nous  a  tellemeu, 
tnnuyi,  (an  iiliot,  and  wearied  us  so,)  that  Alexander  and  myself 
freijiientl}  galloped  away  in  order  to  get  rid  of  him." 

Napoleon  afterwards  rectmnted  to  nie  some  part  of  his  early 
life  :  said,  that  after  having  been  at  school  at  Brienne,  he  was 
sent  to  Paris,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  or  sixteen,  "where  at  the 
general  e.xaminatlon,"  continued  he,  "being  found  to  have  given 
the  best  answers  in  mathematics,  I  was  appointed  to  the  artil- 
lery. After  the  revolution,  about  one-third  of  the  artillery  offi- 
cers emigrated,  and  I  became  chef  de  bataUhn  at  the  siege  of 
''oulon  ;  having  been  proposed  by  the  artillery  officers  them- 
selves as  the  person  who,  amongst  them,  possessed  the  most 
knowledge  of  the  science.  During  the  siege,  1  commanded  the 
artillery,  directed  the  operations  against  the  town,  and  took 
U'llara  prisoner,  as  I  formerly  told  you.  After  the  siege,  I  was 
made  commandant  of  the  artillery  of  the  army  of  Italy,  and  my 
plans  caused  the  capture  of  many  considerable  fortresses  in 
Switzerland  and  Italy.  On  my  return  to  Paris,  I  was  made 
general,  and  the  command  of  the  army  in  La  Vendee  ofTered  to 
me,  which  I  refused,  and  replied  that  such  a  command  was  only 
fit  for  a  general  of  gendarmerie.  On  the  13th  of  Vendemiaire,  I 
commanded  the  army  of  the  convention  in  Paris  against  the 
sections,  whom  I  defeated  after  an  action  of  a  few  minutes. 
Subsequently,  I  got  the  command  of  the  army  of  Italy,  where  I 
established  my  reputation.  Nothing,"  continued  he,  "has  been 
more  simple  than  my  elevation.  It  was  not  the  result  of  intrigue 
<jr  crime.  It  was  owing  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
limes,  and  because  1  fought  successfully  against  the  enemies  of 
my  country.  What  is  most  extraordinary,  and  1  believe  un- 
paralleled in  history,  is,  that  I  rose  from  being  a  private  person 
to  the  astonishing  height  of  power  I  possessed,  without  having 
coranaitted  a  single  crime  to  obtain  it.  If  I  were  on  my  death- 
bed, I  could  make  the  same  declaration." 

I  asked  if  it  were  true  that  he  was  indebted  to  Barras  for 
employment  at  Toulon,  and  if  he  had  ever  offered  his  services  to 
the  English.     "  Both  are  false,"  replied  Napoleon.     "  1  had  no 


1816 — DECEMBER.  156 

connexion  with  Barras  until  after  the  affair  of  Toulon.  It  was  to 
Gasparin,  deputy  f(jr  Oi-ange,  and  a  man  of  talent,  to  whom  I 
was  chiefly  indebted  for  protection  at  Toulon,  and  support  against 
a  set  of  ignorantacci  sent  down  by  the  convention.  I  never  in 
my  life  offered  my  services  to  England,  nor  ever  intended  it. 
Nor  did  I  ever  intend  to  go  to  Constantinople  :  all  those  accourt  ^ 
sont  des  romans,  (are  mere  romances.)     I  passed  a  short  tini.' 

with  Paoli  in  Corsica,  in  the  year ,  who  was  very  partial  to 

me,  and  to  whom  I  was  then  much  attached.  Paoli  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  English  faction,  and  I  that  of  the  French,  and  con- 
sequently most  of  my  family  were  driven  away  from  Corsica 
Paoli  often  patted  me  on  the  head,  saying,  '  you  are  one  of 
Plutarch's  men.'  He  divined  that  I  should  be  something  extra- 
ordinai'y." 

He  spoke  about  the  expedition  to  Copenhagen.  "  That  expe- 
dition," said  he,  "  showed  great  energy  on  the  part  of  your  mi- 
nisters :  but  setting  aside  the  violation  of  the  laws  of  nations 
which  you  committed,  for  in  fact  it  was  nothing  but  a  robbery,  I 
think  that  it  was  injurious  to  your  interests,  as  it  made  the  brave 
Danish  nation  irreconcilable  enemies  to  you,  and,  in  fact,  shut 
you  out  of  the  north  for  three  years.  When  I  heard  of  it,  I  said, 
I  am  glad  of  it,  as  it  will  embroil  England  irrecoverably  with  the 
northern  powers.  The  Danes  being  able  to  join  me  with  sixteen 
sail  of  the  line  was  of  but  little  consequence.  I  had  plenty  of 
ships,  and  only  wanted  seamen,  whom  you  did  not  take,  and 
whom  I  obtained  afterwards;  while  by  the  expedition,  your  mi- 
nisters established  their  characters  as  faithless  and  as  persons 
with  whom  no  engagements,  no  laws,  were  binding." 

"During  the  war  with  you,"  said  he,  "all  the  intelligence  1 
received  from  England  came  through  the  smugglers.  They  are 
terrible  people,  and  have  courage  and  ability  to  do  any  thing  for 
money.  They  had  at  first  a  part  of  Dunkerque  allotted  to  them, 
to  which  they  were  restricted ;  but  as  they  latterly  went  out  of 
their  limits,  committed  riots,  and  insulted  every  body  ;  I  ordered 
Gravelines  to  be  prepared  for  their  reception,  where  they  had  a 
little  camp  for  their  accommodation,  beyond  which  they  wers 
not  permitted   to  gw.      At  one  time,  (here  were  upwards  of  fiv<.' 


lf»6  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    HKI.ENA. 

huiulrod  III"  tliiin  ill  I  >iiiik(i(|iir.  I  li;iil  cvi-iy  information  I 
wsuiteti  through  tht'iii.  They  brought  over  newspapers  and 
dispatches  from  the  spies  that  we  liail  in  IjOIkIou.  'I'hi'y  took 
over  spies  from  France,  hmded  and  l<(iit  tiicni  in  tlieir  houses  A>r 
some  days,  then  dispersed  them  over  the  country,  and  lirought 
them  Itaek  when  wanted.  The  j>oIi(e  had  in  pay  a  number  of 
French  emigrants,  who  gave  constant  inforniation  of  the  actions 
of  the  Vendean  party,  Georges,  and  otiiers,  at  the  time  they 
were  preparing  to  assassinate  me.  All  their  movements  were 
made  known.  Besides,  the  police  had  in  pay  many  h]nglish 
spies,  some  of  high  quality,  amongst  whom  th  re  were  many 
ladies.  There  was  one  lady  in  particular  of  very  high  rr.nk  who 
furnished  considerable  information,  and  was  sometimes  paid  so 
high  as  three  thousand  pounds  in  one  month.  They  came  over," 
continued  he,  '•  in  boats  not  broader  than  this  l)ath.  It  was 
really  astonishing  to  see  them  passing  your  seventy-four  gun 
ships  in  defiance."  I  observed,  that  they  wore  doulde  spies,  and 
that  they  brought  intelligence  from  France  to  the  British  gov- 
ernment. "That  is  very  likely,"  replied  Napoleon.  "They 
brought  you  newspapers;  but  I  believe,  that  as  spies,  they  did 
not  convey  much  intelligence  to  you.  They  are  (/end  terribili, 
(terrible  people.)  and  did  great  mischief  to  your  government. 
They  took  from  France  annually  forty  or  fifty  millions  of  silks 
and  brandy.  They  assisted  the  French  prisoners  to  escape  from 
England.  The  relations  of  Frenchmen,  prisoners  in  your  con- 
try,  were  accustomed  to  go  to  Dunkerque,  and  to  make  a  bargain 
with  them  to  bring  over  a  certain  prisoner.  All  that  they  want- 
ed was  the  name,  age,  and  a  private  token,  by  means  of  which 
the  prisoner  might  rejiose  confidence  in  them.  Generally,  in  a 
short  time  afterwards,  they  eficcted  it;  as,  for  men  like  them, 
they  had  a  great  deal  of  honor  in  their  dealings.  They  offered 
several  times  to  bring  over  Louis  and  the  rest  of  the  Bourbons 
for  a  sum  of  money  ;  but  they  wanted  to  stipulate,  that  if  they 
met  with  any  accident,  or  interruption  to  their  design,  they  might 
be  allowed  to  massacre  them.  This  I  would  not  consent  to. 
Besides,  I  despised  the  Bourbons  too  much,  and  had  no  fear  of 
thei.1  :   indeed,  at  that  time,  they   were  no  more  thought  of  in 


1816 — DECEMBER.  167 

France  than  the  Stuarts  were  in  England.  They  also  offered  to 
bring  over  Dumourier,  Sarrazin,  and  others,  whom  they  thought 
I  hated,  but  I  held  them  in  too  much  contempt  to  take  any 
trouble  about  them." 

This  conversation  was  brought  about  by  my  telling  him  that 
Lefebvre  Desnouettes  had  arrived  at  New  York,  and  was  with 
his  brother  Joseph ;  when  I  asked  if  Lefebvre  had  not  broken  his 
parole  in  England,  Napoleon  replied  that  he  had,  and  then  ol)- 
served,  "  A  great  deal  has  been  said  about  French  officers  having 
been  employed  after  having  broken  their  parole  in  England. 
Now  the  fact  is,  that  the  English  themselves  were  the  first  to 
break  their  parole  at  a  time  when  twelve  of  them  ran  away.  1 
proposed  afterwards  to  your  ministers,  that  both  governments 
should  reciprocally  send  back  every  prisoner  of  whatsoever  rank 
he  might  be,  who  had  broken  his  parole  and  escaped.  This  they 
refused  to  do,  and  I  became  indifferent  about  it.  I  did  not  re- 
ceive at  court  those  who  escaped ;  or  encourage  them,  nor  dis- 
courage them,  after  this  refusal.  Your  ministers  made  a  great 
fuss  [chiasso)  about  officers  who  broke  their  parole  having  been 
employed  in  my  armies,  though  they  refused  to  agree  to  the  only 
measure  which  could  put  a  stop  to  it,  viz.  that  both  sides  should 
send  them  back  immediately  ;  and  afterwards  had  the  impudence 
to  attempt  to  throw  all  the  odium  upon  me.  But  you  English 
can  never  do  any  wrong." 

I  asked  if  he  thought  that  the  expedition  to  Walcheren  might, 
if  it  had  been  well  conducted,  have  taken  Antwerp?  Napoleon 
replied,  "I  am  of  opinion,  that  if  you  had  landed  a  few  thousand 
men  at  first  at  Williamstadt,  and  marched  directly  for  Antwerp, 
that  be*";ween  c(jnsternation,  want  of  preparation,  and  the  uncer- 
tainty of  the  number  of  assailants,  you  might  have  taken  it  by  a 
Mup  de  main.  But  after  the  fleet  had  got  up,  it  was  impossible ; 
as  the  crews  of  the  ships,  united  to  the  national  guard,  workmen, 
and  others,  amounted  to  upwards  of  fifteen  thousand  men.  The 
ships  would  have  been  sunk,  or  taken  into  the  docks,  and  the 
crews  employed  upon  the  batteries.  Besides,  Antwerp,  though 
old,  is  strongly  fortified.  It  is  true  that  Lord  Chatham  did  ever)^ 
thing  possible  to  ensure  the  failure  of  the  object  of  the  expedition  , 


158  A   VOk'K    FUOM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

I'Ul  artor  tlu"  iK'Iav  of  a  f«'\v  tla_\  s,  it  \soiilil  liavf  Ixm-ii  impossiltle 
for  anv  man  to  havo  i-ni'i-tt'ti  it.  You  had  too  many  and  too  few 
men  ;  too  many  for  a  coup  de  main,  and  too  few  for  a  regular 
siege.  The  inhabitants  were  all  against  you ;  as  they  saw 
clearly  that  your  oliject  was  to  get  possession  of  the  town,  t  J 
liurn  and  destroy  every  thing,  and  then  go  to  your  ships  and  get 
away,  it  was  a  very  liad  expedition  for  you.  Your  ministers 
were  very  badly  informed  about  the  country.  You  had  after- 
wards the  httise  to  stay  in  that  ])estilential  place,  until  you  lost 
some  thousands  of  men.  C'etuit  le  comble  de  la  betise  et  de 
V'mhumamte*  I  was  very  glad  of  it,  as  I  knew  that  disease 
would  carry  you  off  by  thousands,  and  oblige  you  to  evacuate  it, 
without  any  exertion  being  made  on  my  part.  1  sent  none  but 
deserters  and  mauvais  siijels  to  garrison  it,  and  gave  orders  that 
they  should  sleep  in  two  frigates  I  had  sent  there  for  that  pur- 
pose. I  also  had  water  conveyed  to  them  at  a  great  expense, 
but  still  it  was  most  unhealthy.  The  general  who  commanded 
Flushing,"  added  he,  "did  not  defend  it  as  long  as  he  ought  to 
have  done.  He  had  made  a  large  fortune  by  the  smugglers  (as 
there  was  another  depot  of  them  there)  and  had  been  guilty  of 
some  mal-practices ;  for  which  he  was  afraid  of  being  brought  to 
a  court-martial,  and  I  believe  was  glad  to  get  away." 

I  asked  him  if  it  were  true  that  a  Corsican,  named  Masseria, 
had  been  sent  with  some  proposals  to  him  once  by  our  govern- 
ment? Napoleon  replied,  "Masseria?  Yes,  I  recollect  per- 
tectly  well  that  he  was  brought  to  me  when  I  was  first  consul. 
lie  was  introduced  with  great  mystery  and  secrecy  into  my  room, 
when  1  was  in  a  bath,  as  I  am  now.  I  think  he  began  to  speak 
about  some  political  matters,  and  to  make  some  insinuations 
al)Out  peace,  but  I  stopped  him,  as  it  had  been  published  in  the 
English  papers,  that  he  was  coming  upon  some  mission  to  me^ 
which  I  did  not  like.  Besides,  Masseria,  though  vn  hravissimc 
tiomo,  (a  very  fine  man,)  was  a  great  bavard,  (talker.)  1  believe 
that  he  was  sent  by  king  George  himself.  He  was  a  republican, 
and  maintained  that  the  death  of  Charles  !.  was  just  and  nece:^ 
wry." 

*  It  was  the  height  of  idiotiHin  ami  of  iiiliumanity. 


1816 — Beckmber.  169 

Lady  Lowe  came  up  to  Longwood,  and  for  the  first  time  paid 
a  visit  to  Countesses  Bertrand  and  Montiiolon. 

Gth. — Napoleon  observed  to  me,  that  the  visit  of  Lady  Lowe 
yesterday  appeared  to  him  to  be  an  artifice  of  her  husband,  per 
gettar  la  polvere  negli  occhi  (to  throw  dust  in  the  eyes ;)  to  make 
people  believe  that  notwithstanding  the  arrest  of  Las  Cases,  the 
governor  was  very  well  at  Longwood,  and  had  only  done  his 
duty  ;  and  that  there  was  no  foundation  for  the  reports  which  had 
been  spread  of  the  ill  treatment  said  to  be  inflicted  upon  the  in- 
habitants of  Longwood.  I  informed  him,  that  Lady  Lowe  had 
been  always  desirous  to  call  upon  Countesses  Bertrand  and  Mon- 
tholon,  and  had  embraced  the  first  opportunity  which  presented 
itself  after  her  accouchement.  Napoleon  replied,  "  I  am  far 
from  thinking  that  she  participates  in  the  designs  of  her  husband, 
but  she  has  badly  chosen  the  time.  At  the  moment  when  he 
treats  Las  Cases  so  barbarously  and  illegally,  he  sends  her  up. 
It  is  either  an  artifice  of  her  husband's  to  blind  the  world ;  or 
else  he  mocks  our  misfortunes.  Nothing  is  so  insulting  as  to 
add  irony  to  injury."  I  observed,  that  more  probably  it  was  a 
preliminary  step  of  the  governor's  towards  an  accommodation. 
"  No,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  that  cannot  be.  If  he  really  wished 
to  accommodate  matters,  the  first  step  would  be  to  take  away 
some  of  his  useless  and  oppressive  restrictions.  Yesterday,  after 
his  wife  had  been  here,  Madame  Bertrand  and  family  went  out 
to  walk.  On  their  return,  they  were  stopped  and  seized  by  the 
sentinels,  who  refused  to  let  them  in,  because  it  was  six  o'clock. 
Now,  in  the  name  of  God,  if  he  had  a  mind  to  accommodate, 
would  he  continue  to  prevent  us  from  taking  a  walk  at  the  onlv 
time  of  the  day  when,  at  this  season,  it  is  agreeable.  Tell  him,'' 
continued  Napoleon,  "candidly,  the  observations  I  have  made, 
if  he  asks  you  what  I  thought  of  the  visit." 

7/A. — Wrote  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  a  statement  of  what  Napo- 
leon had  informed  me  on  the  4th  inst.  would  be  the  best  mode 
of  eflfecting  an  accommodation. 

Had  a  long  conversation  with  Napoleon  upon  the  anatomy  of 
the  human  body.  He  desired  to  see  some  anatomical  plates, 
which  I  explained  to  him.     He  informed  me  that  he  had  tried  tc 


160  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    IlKl.KNA. 

sUiJv  anatomy  at  ono  tiiiu-,  Imt  thai  lie  had  hoon  disfj;ustt'd  with 
the  sight  and  smell  of  tho  siibjcels.  1  observed  that  phites  only 
served  to  remind  a  person  of  what  he  had  already  learmd  from 
actual  dissection;  for  whieh  last  they  could  never  be  entirely 
substituted.  lu  this  Napoleon  perfectly  agreed  with  me,  and 
pave  nie  some  account  of  the  great  encouragement  which  he  had 
given  to  the  schools  of  anatomy  and  surgery  ;  and  of  the  facili- 
ties whieh  he  hail  allonled  to  medical  students  to  learn  their  pro- 
fessions at  a  trilling  expense. 

Heard  him  e.\i>ress  some  sentiments  afterwards  relative  to  a 
few  of  the  characters  who  had  figured  in  the  revolution,  "liobe- 
spierre,"  said  he,  "  though  a  blood-thirsty  monster,  was  not  so 
bad  as  Collot  d'Herbois,  Billaud  de  Varennes,  Hebert,  Fouquier 
Tinville,  and  many  others.  Latterly  Robespierre  wished  to  be 
more  moderate  ;  and  actually,  sometime  before  his  death,  said 
that  he  was  tired  of  executions,  and  suggested  moderati(jn.  VVheu 
Hebert  accused  the  queen  de  contrarier  la  nature,  (contrary  to 
nature)  Robespierre  proposed  that  he  should  be  denounced,  as 
naving  made  such  an  improbable  accusation,  purposely  to  excite 
a  sympathy  amongst  the  people,  in  order  that  they  might  rise 
and  rescue  her.  From  the  beginning  of  the  revolution,  Louis 
had  constantly  the  life  of  Charles  the  First  before  his  eyes.  The 
example  of  Charles,  who  had  come  to  extremities  with  the  par- 
liament, and  lost  his  head,  prevented  Louis  on  many  occasions 
from  making  the  defence  which  he  ought  to  have  done  against 
the  revolutionists.  When  brought  to  trial,  he  ought  merely  to 
have  said,  that  by  the  laws  he  could  do  no  wiong,  and  that  his 
person  was  sacred.  The  queen  ought  to  have  done  the  same.  It 
would  have  had  no  effect  in  saving  their  lives,  but  they  would 
have  died  with  more  dignity.  Robespierre  was  of  opinion  that 
the  king  ought  to  have  been  dispatched  privately.  '  What  is  the 
use,'  said  Robespierre,  '  of  this  mockery  of  forms,  when  you  go 
to  the  trial  prepared  to  condemn  him  to  death,  whether  he  de- 
serves it  or  not?'  The  queen,"  added  Napoleon,  "  went  to  the 
scaffcjld  with  some  sensations  of  joy  ;  and  truly  it  must  have 
been  a  relief  to  her  to  depart  from  a  life  in  which  she  was  treated 
with  such  execrable  barbarity.     Had   I,"  continued   he,  "  been 


1816 — DECEMBER.  161 

four  or  five  years  older,  I  have  no  doubt  that  I  should   have  been 
guillotined  along  with  numbers  of  others." 

8ih. — Napoleon  in  a  bath.  Conversed  at  length  about  the 
situation  of  England,  which  he  imputed  entirely  to  the  imbecility 
of  Lord  Castlereagh.  "  If,"  said  he,  "your  ministers  had  paid 
attention  to  the  interests  of  the  country,  instead  of  intriguing, 
they  would  have  rendered  you  the  most  happy,  and  the  most 
flourishing  nation  in  the  world.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  war, 
they  should  have  said  to  the  Spanish  and  Portuguese  govern- 
ments, '  We  have  saved  your  country — we  alone  have  supported 
you,  and  prevented  you  from  falling  a  prey  to  France.  We  have 
made  many  campaigns,  and  shed  our  best  blood  in  your  cause. 
We  have  expended  many  millions  of  money,  and  consequently 
the  country  is  overburdened  with  debt  on  yonr  account,  which 
we  must  pay.  You  have  the  means  of  repaying  us.  Our  situa- 
tion requires  that  we  should  liquidate  our  debts.  We  demand, 
therefore,  that  we  shall  be  the  only  nation  allowed  to  trade  with 
Soyth  America  for  twenty  years,  and  that  our  ships  shall  have 
the  same  privilege  as  Spanish  vessels.  In  this  way  we  will  reim- 
Ijuvse  ourselves,  without  distressing  you.'  Who,"  continued  he, 
'•  could  say  710  to  this  1  France  is  now  nothing.  Besides,  to 
tell  the  truth,  it  would  be  only  a  just  demand,  and  none  of  the 
allied  powers  could  deny  your  right  to  exact  it ;  for  it  was 
through  you  alone,  and  the  energy  which  you  displayed,  that 
both  Spain  and  Portugal  did  not  fall.  You  might  have  asked, 
'  Who  saved  Portugal  1  who  alone  assisted  you  with  men  and 
money,  besides  having  saved  your  existence  as  a  nation  V  In 
this  way  you  would  have  had  your  manufacturers  thriving  ;  your 
sailors  employed  in  your  own  ships  instead  of  starving,  or  being 
forced  to  seek  a  livelihood  with  foreign  powers  ;  your  canaille 
would  have  been  contented  and  happy,  instead  of  being  (jbliged 
to  have  recourse  to  subscriptions  to  keep  them  from  starvation 
As  it  now  is,  France  will  soon  have  the  trade  of  the  Biazils  ;  as 
you  have  in  your  own  colonies  more  cotton  and  sugar  than  you 
want,  and  consequently  will  not  take  the  productions  of  the 
Brazils  in  exchange  for  your  merchandise.  Now  the  French 
will  J  as  Martinique  cannot  supply  a  quantity  sufficient  for  the 


11)2  A    VOICK    KKOM    ST.    HELENA. 

consumption  of  Franco.  Tlicv  will  exchange  their  inaniirjicturod 
poods,  silks,  furniture,  wines,  v.Vc.,  ay;iiiist  the  colonial  produce, 
and  soon  have  the  whole  trade  of  the  lirazils.  In  like  manner 
thev  will  have  the  preference  in  trading  with  the  Spanish  colo- 
nies ;  partly  on  account  of  the  religion,  and  also  heeause  the 
Spaniards,  like  other  nations,  are  jealous  of  a  people  all-powerful 
at  sea,  and  will  constantly  assist  to  lessen  that  power ;  which  is 
most  oflectually  to  be  done  by  Ics-sening  your  commerce.  Ano- 
ther piece  of  folly  in  your  ministers,  was  the  allowing  any  natiou 
but  vtturselves  to  trade  with  India;  particularly  the  Dutch,  who 
will  be  your  greatest  enemies  ;  and  prol)ably  before  twenty  years, 
when  France  has  recovered  herself,  you  will  see  the  Dutch  unite 
with  her  to  humble  you.  If  you  had  made  those  demands,  they 
must  have  been  granted;  and  the  powers  of  Europe  would  not 
have  been  more  jealous  of  you  than  they  are  now,  ami  always 
will  be,  as  long  as  you  have  absolute  power  over  the  seas,  and 
insist  upon  the  right  of  search,  and  other  articles  of  your  mari- 
time code.  You  would  then  have  the  means  of  keeping  up  your 
maritime  empire,  which  must  decay  if  you  have  not  more  com- 
merce than  the  rest  of  the  world.  But  your  ministers  have  had 
false  ideas  of  things.  They  imagined  that  they  could  inundate 
the  continent  with  your  merchandise,  and  find  a  ready  sale.  No, 
no  :  the  world  is  now  more  illuminated.*  Even  the  Russians 
will  say,  '  Why  should  we  enrich  this  nation,  to  enable  her  to 
keep  up  a  monopoly  and  tyranny  of  the  seas,  while  our  own 
manufacturers  are  numerous  and  skilful  V  You  wnll,"  continued 
he,  "  find  that  in  a  few  years  very  little  English  merchandise 
will  be  sold  on  the  continent.f  I  gave  a  new  era  to  manufac- 
tories. The  French  already  excel  yo\i  in  the  manufacture  of 
cloths  and  many  other  articles.  The  Hollanders  in  cambric  and 
linen.  I  formed  several  thousand  ;  I  established  the  ^co/e  Po/y- 
technique,  from  which  hundreds  of  able  chemists  went  to  the  dif- 
ferent manufactories.     In  each  of  them,  I  caused  a  person  well 

•  A  peruRal  of  the  tariff  just  promdgated  by  Eossia,  will  show  how  prophetic 
this  opinion  was. 

t  The  whole  of  this  conversation  was  communicated  by  me  to  official  penocj 
ic  London  shortly  after  it  had  taken  place. 


1816 — DECEMBER.  168 

skilled  in  chemistry  to  reside.  In  consequence,  everything  pro 
ceeded  upon  certain  and  established  principles  ;  and  they  had  a 
reason  to  give  for  every  part  of  their  operations,  instead  of  the 
old  vague  and  uncertain  mode.  Times  are  changed,"  continued 
Napoleon;  "and  you  must  no  longer  look  to  the  continent  for 
the  disposal  of  your  manufactures.  America,  the  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  main,  are  the  only  vent  for  them.  Recollect  whni 
I  say  to  you.  In  a  year  or  two  your  people  will  complain,  and 
say,  '  We  have  gained  everything,  but  we  are  starving  :  we  are 
worse  than  we  were  during  the  war.'  Then,  perhaps,  your  min- 
isters will  endeavor  to  effect  what  they  ought  to  have  done  at 
first.  You  are  not  able,"  continued  he,  "to  face  even  Prussia  in 
the  field,  and  your  preponderance  on  the  continent  was  entirely 
owing  to  your  naval  sovereignty  ;  which,  perhaps,  you  will  lose 
by  this  military  disease  of  your  ministers.  England  has  played 
for  all  or  for  nothing,  {lia  giuocato  per  tutto  o  per  nienfe).  She 
has  gained  all,  effected  impossibilities,  yet  has  nothing  ;  and  her 
people  are  starving,  and  worse  than  they  were  during  the  midst 
of  the  war ;  while  France,  who  has  lost  everything,  is  doing  well, 
and  the  wants  of  her  people  are  abundantly  supplied.  France 
has  got  fat,  notwithstanding  the  liberal  bleedings  which  she  has 
had  ;  while  England  is  like  a  man  who  has  had  a  false  momentary 
strength  given  to  him  by  intoxicating  liquors,  but  who,  after  their 
effect,  sinks  into  a  state  of  debility." 

IO//1. — Water  very  scarce  at  Longwood.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
gave  direction  that  the  horses  of  the  establishment  should  be 
rode  to  water  to  Hut's  Gate,  instead  of  getting  it  from  the  tubs 
that  were  placed  for  the  use  of  Napoleon's  household.  The  watci 
in  them  is  extremely  muddy,  green,  and  nauseous.  In  Dead 
wood,  it  is  more  easy  to  get  a  bottle  of  wine  than  one  of  water. 
Parties  of  the  53d  are  employed  daily  in  rolling  butts  of  water 
to  their  camp.  It  reminded  me  of  my  former  residence  in 
Egypt,  where  we  were  obliged  to  buy  bad  water,  at  an  exorbitant 
rate. 

Charles,  a  mulatto  servant,  discharged  from  Longwood.  Or- 
ders given  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  that  he  should  be  sent  to  his 
bouse.     Underwent  a  long  interrogation  from  his  excellency,  as 


101  A    VOICK    KKOM    ST.    HKI.KNA. 

to  what  111-  liail  m-cm  iiikI  luani  (lining  the  tiiiir  hf  liail  l)ocii  n\ 
Li'iiywooil.  Api'litulioii  niaiiv  to  the  fioveiiior  l>y  tlu'  oidrrly 
KtVictT  to  iiIK>\v  a  lart  fur  tho  jxirposc  of  luinging  watt-r  to  the 
I'Stahlishnu'iit,  that  in  thf  tulis  l)ein<j:  so  very  scanty  and  liad. 

Napoleon  rather  nielamlioly,  and  annoyed,  that  instead  of  tiie 
whoh'  tif  the  campaigns  of  Italy  having  ht>en  retnrned  by  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  only  three  or  four  chapters  had  been  sent.  Desir- 
ed ine  to  tell  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  that  he  supposed  he  was  getting 
them  copied,  and  that  acc(.)rding  as  they  were  finished,  he  would 
send  them  back. 

llt/t. — Went  to  riantation  House,  and  ac(iuainted  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe  with  the  message  I  was  charged  to  deliver  him.  His 
excellency  waxed  very  wroth,  and  said,  that  if  General  Bonajiarte 
persisted  in  his  belief  tiiat  the  papers  had  been  kept  for  the  pur- 
pose of  copying,  after  the  assurance  to  the  contrary,  which  he 
had  yesterday  had  from  young  Las  Cases  ;  he  (Sir  Hudson)  con- 
sidered him  unworthy  of  be'mg  treated  like  a  man  of  honor,  and 
undeserving  the  consideration  due  from  one  gentleman  to  anolliery 
This  he  not  only  repeated  twice,  but  obliged  me  to  insert  it  in 
my  pocket-book  ;  and  desired  me  not  on  any  account  to  omit 
communicating  those  expressions  to  General  Bonaparte.  After 
having  cotded  a  little,  however,  his  excellency  rescinded  his 
directions,  gave  me  some  explanations  which  he  desired  me  to 
make  known  to  Napoleon,  and  ordered  me  to  rub  out  of  my 
pocket-book  the  obnoxious  expressions.  He  then  walked  about 
in  the  library  with  me,  and  said,  "that  in  reference  and  reply  to 
what  I  had  written  to  him,  General  Bonaparte  could  not  be  per- 
mitted to  run  about  the  country.  That  if  the  intentions  of 
ministers  were  only  to  prevent  his  escape  from  the  island,  a 
company's  governor  would  have  answered  as  well  as  any  other 
person  ;  but  that  there  were  other  objects  in  view,  and  material 
ones,  which  he  had  been  sent  out  to  fulfil.  That  there  were  sev- 
eral strong  reasons  for  not  allowing  him  to  communicate  in  the 
island.  That  any  man  might  secure  his  person  by  planting 
seiirries  about  him,  but  that  nmch  more  was  to  be  done."  When 
I  w&s  about  to  leave  the  room,  he  called  me  back,  and  said, 
"  Tell  General  Bonaparte,   that  it  is  very  fortunate  for  him  that 


1816 — DECEMBER.  166 

he  has  so  good  a  man  for  governor  over  him  ;  that  others,  with 
the  instructions  I  have,  would  have  put  him  in  chains  for  his 
conduct."  He  concluded  by  desiring  me  to  endeavor  to  get  Sir 
Thomas  Strange  introduced  to  Napoleon. 

Cipriani  in  town  purchasing  provisions. 

I2th. — Explained  to  Napoleon  in  the  least  offensive  manner  1 
could,  the  message  I  had  been  ordered  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to 
deliver,  with  an  assurance  from  the  governor,  that  his  papers  had 
been  kept  sacred  ;  which  I  observed  had  been  confirmed  by  a 
letter  from  Emanuel  de  Las  Cases,  which  had  accompanied  those 
that  had  been  returned,  testifying  that  the  papers  had  been  re- 
spected. That  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  told  me  that  during  the 
examination  of  the  papers,  which  took  place  always  in  presence 
of  Las  Cases,  whenever  the  latter  had  pointed  out  one  as  belong- 
ing to  him,  (Napoleon,)  it  was  immediately  put  aside,  without 
being  looked  at ;  and  that  when  the  examination  was  finished,  the 
papers  were  sealed  up  with  Las  Cases'  seal,  and  not  opened 
again,  unless  in  his  presence.  That  Sir  Hudson  had  said,  that  so 
far  from  being  instigated  by  malice  or  revenge,  he  had  written 
to  the  ministry  to  ameliorate  his  condition,  &c.  Napoleon  re- 
plied, that  he  did  not  believe  it;  no  government  two  thousand 
leagues  off  could  know  the  localities  so  well  as  to  give  minute 
details,  they  could  only  give  general  orders ;  that  no  asser- 
tion from  a  man  who  had  told  so  many  falsehoods,  could  be 
credited  ;  and  that  the  letter  from  young  Las  Cases  was  not 
satisfactory,  as  it  merely  contained  an  assurance  from  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe,  that  they  would  be  respected.*  "  As  to  his  instructions," 
continued  he,  •'  I  have  no  doubt  that  if  he  has  not  received 
written  orders  to  *  *  *,  he  has  verbal  ones,  (a  voce.)  When  it 
is  intended  to  *  *  *,  it  is  always  commenced  by  cutting  off  all 
communication  between  him  and  the  world ;  by  enveloping  him 
with  mystery  and  secrecy,  in  order  that  after  having  accustomed 
the  world  to  hear  nothing  about  him,  ******,  "Tell  him," 
added  he,  "my  sentiments  on  the  subject." 

I  then  spoke  about  Sir  Thomas  Strange,  and  inf(jrniod  him,  that 
Sir  Thomas  Strange,  who  had  been  chief  judge  in  the  East  Indies, 

•  tbi*  reply,  in /uU,  wascotnniniiicated  by  iiic  in  writing  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 


Irt6  A    Vok'K    KKOM    ST     IIKLKNA. 

was  desirous  of  {>;i_\  iiiy  his  ifspei-ts  Id  liiin,  ami  thai  his  ititcnded 
visit  did  not  iiriso  fitnii  luriosity  ;  hut  was  ii  mark  of  tiiat  alton 
tion  whiili  rvery  person  ought  to  show  towards  so  great  a  man, 
and  one  who  had  filled  so  liigh  a  station  in  the  world.  Napo- 
leon replievi,  "'  I  will  see  no  person  who  does  not  first  go  to  Ber- 
trand.  Tersons  sent  direet  hy  the  governor  1  will  not  see,  as  it 
would  have  the  appearance  of  oheying  a  command  from  him." 

Count  Bertrand  now  canie  in,  and  mentioned  that  the  governor 
was  at  Longwood,  and  wanted  to  see  me.  Napoleon  then  said, 
'•  If  he  asks  you  any  (piestions  ai)out  my  thoughts,  tell  him  that 
I  intend  wiiting  a  protest  to  the  Prince  Regent  against  his  bar- 
barous conduct.  That  his  keeping  Las  Cases  in  custody,  when 
there  is  nothing  against  him,  is  illegal.  That  he  ought  either  to 
be  sent  back  here;  or  sent  off  the  island;  or  tried.  That  if  he 
wishes  to  accommodate  differences,  as  he  informed  you,  let  him 
alter  his  conduct,  and  put  matters  upon   the  footing  they  were 

during  the  time  of  Admiral   Cockburn.     As  to  the  visit  of  the 

... 
judge,  whom  he  wishes  me  to  see,  tell   him  que  les  gens  qui  sont 

dans  un  tombeau  ne  refoivent  pas  de  visiles,  (the  inhabitants  of 

the  tomb  receive  no  visits,)  as  he  has  literally  immured  me  in  a 

tomb.     Besides,  according  to  his  restrictions,  if  the  judge  does  not 

speak  French,  I  cannot  employ  one  of  my  officers  to  interpret,  as 

he  has  jtrohiiiitid  strangers  who  may  visit  me  from  speaking  or 

communicating   with  any  person   of  my  suite,  and   moreover,  I 

have  lost  Las  Cases." 

Count  Bertrand  desired  me  to  say,  that  if  he  saw  Sir  Thomas 
Strange,  he  should  be  ol)liged  to  show  him  those  parts  of  the 
governor's  restrictions,  signed  by  himself,  in  which  he  had  prohi- 
bited those  who  had  a  pass  to  see  the  emperor,  from  holding  any 
communication  with  others  of  his  household,  unless  specially  per- 
mitted. 

Informed  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  of  what  1  had  been  desired,  which 
he  said  he  would  communicate  to  Lord  Bathurst.  He  then  ob- 
served, "that  Count  Las  Cases  had  not  followed  General  Bona- 
parte out  of  affection,  but  merely  to  have  an  opportunity  of 
obtaining  materials  from  him  to  publish  his  life ;  that  General 
Bonaparte   did   not  know   what  Las  Cases  had  written,  or  the 


1816 — DECEMBER,  16? 

expressions  which  had  dropped  from  him  ;  that  he  had  alreadj 
collected  some  very  curious  materials  for  his  history  ;  that  mi 
nisters  feared  that  some  turbulent  intriguing  persons  in  France, 
or  on  the  continent,  would  indeavor  to  excite  rebellion  and  new 
wars  in  Europe,  by  making  use  of  his  (Napoleon's)  name  to  in- 
sure their  purposes ;  that  General  Bonaparte  was  very  lucky  in 
having  so  good  a  man  as  himself  to  deal  with,"  &c. 

He  added  again,  that  he  could  not  tell  the  nature  of  his  orders ; 
that  he  had  an  important  object  to  fulfil,  independent  of  the 
detention  of  General  Bonaparte ;  and,  after  some  more  conver- 
sation upon  similar  subjects,  said,  that  he  would  give  permission 
to-morrow  to  Sir  Thomas  Strange  and  family  to  communicate 
with  Bertrand,  or  with  any  others  of  the  suite. 

Saw  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  to  whom  I  mentioned  Napoleon's 
answer  relative  to  the  interview  which  the  governor  was  desirous 
to   obtain   for  Sir  Thomas  Strange.     Sir  Thomas  replied,  "  If  I 

were  governor,   I'll  be  d d  if  I  would  not  make  him  feel  that 

he  was  a  prisoner."  I  observed,  "  Why,  you  cannot  do  much 
more  to  him  than  you  have  already  done,  unless  you  put  him 
in  irons."     "  Oh,"  answered  Reade,  "  if  he  did  not  comply  with 

what   I   wanted,   I'll   be   d d   if  I   wouldn't  take   his   books 

from  him,  which  I'll  advise  the  governor  to  do.     He  is  a  d d 

outlaw  and  a  jirisoner,  and  the  governor  has  a  right  to  treat  him 
with  as  much  severity  as  he  likes,  and  nobody  has  any  business 
to  interfere  with  him  in  the  execution  of  his  duty." 

Told  Napoleon  what  his  excellency  had  directed  me  to  com- 
municate. He  observed,  that  the  only  way  to  prevent  people 
from  making  use  of  his  name,  in  order  to  excite  rebellion,  was  to 
put  him  to  death.  "That,"  said  he,  "is  the  only  effectual  mode, 
and  the  sooner  the  better.  //  rCy  a  que  les  morts  qui  ne  reviennent 
pas,''''  (the  dead  only  return  not.) 

"  All  that  he  says,"  continued  he,  "  is  per  gettar  la  polvere,  (to 
throw  dust,)  to  deceive  the  judge,  in  order  that  he  may  say, 
when  he  arrives  in  England,  that  it  is  my  own  fault  if  I  do  not 
receive  whoever  I  please.  Un  vomo  cattivo  che  ha  lutta  la  scal- 
trezza  Siciliana,^''  (a  bad  man  who  has  all  the  villany  of  a  Sicilian.) 

\Zth, — A  sealed  letter  from  Napoleon  to  Las  Cases,  given  by 


168  A    VOICK    FKOM    ST.    IIKI.KN'A. 

Count  HiMtraiiil  to  ('a|it;iiii  l'(>|)j)|fttiii,  for  tlio  piirptise  of  lu'iiig 
forwardi'd  thiou<jli  tlu'  ijovcriKir  to  the  Count.  At  six,  P.  M.,  a 
Jra<;oon  liroiiijht  two  lotters  from  Sir  Hudson  Lcwc  to  Count 
Hortrand.  oiu*  ntuining  Napoloon's  lottor  to  ('omit  Las  Cases, 
because  it  was  sealed,  adding,  that  he  would  not  forward  any 
sealed  letter ;  and  that  even  if  it  were  open,  it  would  depend 
upon  the  nature  of  the  contents,  whether  it  would  he  forwarded 
or  not  ;  as  he  (the  governor)  did  not  wish  that  any  communica- 
tion should  take  place  lietween  Longwood  and  Count  Las  Cases. 
In  the  other,  the  governor  intimated  that  proljal)ly  he  should  not 
lake  any  steps  with  respect  to  Las  Cases,  until  he  heard  from  the 
British  government. 

Saw  Napoleon,  who  observed,  that  he  believed  nothing  good 
could  come  from  the  governor,  who  was  a  man  of  bad  lymph. 
"  He  ought,"  continued  he,  "  to  have  several  large  blisters'  applied, 
to  draw  away  some  of  that  bad  lymph  from  him." 

He  conversed  upon  the  probal>ility  of  a  revolution  in  France. 
"  Ere  twenty  years  have  elapsed,  when  1  am  dead  and  buried," 
said  he,  "you  will  witness  another  revolution  in  France.  It  is 
impossible  that  twenty-nine  millions  of  Frenchmen  can  live  con- 
tented, under  the  yoke  of  sovereigns  imposed  upon  them  by 
foreigners,  and  against  whom  they  have  fought  and  bled  for  nearly 
thirty  years.  Can  you  blame  the  French  for  not  being  willing 
to  submit  to  the  yoke  of  such  animaux  as  Monchenu  ?  You  are 
very  fond  in  England  of  making  a  comparison  between  the  res- 
toration of  Charles  the  Second  and  that  of  Louis,  but  there  is 
not  the  smallest  similitude.  Charles  was  recalled  by  the  mass 
.if  the  English  nation  to  the  throne  which  his  successor  after- 
wards lost  f<jr  a  7/tass ;  but  as  to  the  Bourbons,  there  is  not  a 
village  in  France  which  has  not  lost  thirty  or  forty  of  the  flower 
of  its  youth  in  endeavoring  to  prevent  their  return.  The  senti- 
ments of  the  nation  are, — '  Ce  n'est  pas  nous  qui  avons  rameiic 
ces  miserables  ;  non,  ceux  qui  out  ravage  notre  pays,  qui  onl  brule 
nos  mnisons,  qui  ont  viole  nos  femmea  ei  nos  Jilles,  leu  ont  mis  sur 
U  trtnc  par  la  forcey^* 

*  We  have  not  brought  buck  those  wretches;  no,  those  who  ravaged  our 
a^untry,  burnt  our  houses,  and  violated  our  wives  and  our  daughters,  nave 
placed  them  on  the  throne  by  force. 


1816 — DECEMBER.  169 

I  asked  him  some  questions  about  the  share  that  Moreau  had 
in  Georges' conspiracy.  "Moreau,"  said  he,  "confessed  to  his 
advocate  that  he  had  seen  and  conversed  with  Georges  and  Piche- 
gru,  and  that  on  his  trial  he  intended  to  avow  it.  His  counsel, 
however,  dissuaded  him  from  doing  so  ;  and  observed,  that  if  he 
confessed  having  seen  Georges,  nothing  could  save  him  from  con- 
demnation to  death.  Moreau,  in  an  interview  he  had  with  the 
other  two  conspirators,  insisted  that  the  first  step  to  be  taken 
was  to  kill  me  ;  that  when  I  was  disposed  of,  he  should  have 
great  power  and  influence  with  the  army  ;  but  that  as  long  as  I 
lived,  he  could  do  nothing.  When  he  was  arrested,  the  paper  of 
accusation  against  him  was  given  to  him,  in  which  his  crime  was 
stated  to  be,  the  having  conspired  against  the  life  of  the  first 
consul  and  the  security  of  the  republic,  in  complicity  with  Piche- 
gru  and  Georges.  On  reading  the  names  of  those  two,  he  dropt 
the  paper  and  fainted." 

"  In  the  battle  before  Dresden,"  said  Napoleon,  "  I  ordered  an 
attack  to  be  made  upon  the  allies  by  both  flanks  of  my  army. 
While  the  manoeuvres  for  this  purpose  were  executing,  the  centre 
remained  motionless.  At  the  distance  of  about  from  this  to  the 
outer  gate,*  I  observed  a  group  of  persons  collected  together  on 
horseback.  Concluding  that  they  were  endeavoring  to  observe 
my  manoeuvres,  I  resolved  to  disturb  them,  and  called  to  a  cap- 
tain of  artillery,  who  commanded  a  field  battery  of  eighteen  or 
twenty  pieces  :  '■'•  Jettez  une  doiizaine  de  boulets  a  la  fois  dans  ce 
f/roupe  la  2^e)it-etre  y  a-t-il  quelques  petits  generaiixy  (Throw  a 
dozen  of  bullets  at  once  into  that  group  ;  perhaps  there  are  some 
little  generals  in  it.)  It  was  done  instantly.  One  of  the  balls 
struck  Moreau,  carried  off  both  his  legs,  and  went  through  his 
horse.  Many  more,  I  believe,  who  were  near  him,  were  killed 
and  wounded.  A  moment  before  Alexander  had  been  speaking 
to  him.  Moreau's  legs  were  amputated  not  far  from  the  spot. 
One  of  his  feet,  with  the  boot  upon  it,  which  the  surgeon  had 
thrown  upon  the  ground,  was  brought  by  a  peasant  to  the  king 
of  Saxony,  with  information  that  some  officer  of  great  distincticn 

*  About  five  buiiclred  yards. 
8 


170  A    VOU'K    KHOM    ST.    liKI-KNA. 

hiul  luHMi  struck  1>\  a  i'anin)ii-slu)l.     Tlie  king,  coiicoiviiiy  ihaL  Ui% 
namo  of  the  jn'i-suii    miglit   porhaps   he  discovored   by  the  l)uot, 
soiit    it   to   mo.      It  was  o.xainiiK'd    at   my  lu-ad-cjiiarteis,   l)ut  ail 
that  could  he  ascertained  was,  that  the  boot  was  neither  of  Eng- 
lish nor  of  French  manufacture.     The  next  day  we  were  informed 
that   it  was  the  log  of  Moreau.      It  is  not  a  little  extraordinary," 
continued   Napoleon,  "that  in  an  action  a  short  time  aflerwards, 
I  oniorod  the  same  artillery  oflicor,  with  the  same  guns,  and  under 
nearly  similar  circumstances,  to  throw  eighteen  or  twenty  bullets 
at  once  into  a  concourse  of  officers  collected  together,  by  which 
General  St.  Priest,  another  Frenchinan,  a  traitor  and  a  man  of 
talent,  who  had  a  command   in   the  Russian   army,  was  killed 
along  with  many  others.     Nothing,"  continued  the  emperor,  "  is 
more  destructive  than  a  discharge  of  a  dozen  or  more  guns   at 
once  amongst  a  group  of  persons.     From  one  or  two  they  may 
escape  ;  but  from  a  number  discharged  at  a  time,  it  is  almost 
impossible.     After  Esling,  when  I  had  caused  my  army  to  go 
over  to  the  isle  of  Lobau,  there  was  for  some  weeks,  by  common 
md  tacit  consent  on  both  sides  between  the  soldiers,  not  by  any 
agreement  between  the  generals,  a  cessation  of  firing,  which  in- 
deed had  produced  no  benefit,  and  only  killed  a  few  unfortunate 
sentinels.     I  rode  out  every  day  in  different  directions.     No  per- 
son was  molested  on  either  side.     One  day,  however,  riding  along 
rtith  Oudinot,  I  stopped  for  a  moment  uprm  the  edge  of  the  island, 
which  was  about  eighty  toises  distant  from   the  opposite  liank, 
where  the  enemy  was.     They  perceived  us,  and  knowing  me  by 
the  little  hat  and  gray  coat,  they  pointed  a  three  pounder  at  us. 
The  hall  passed  Ijotween  Oudinot  and  me,  and  was  very  close  to 
both  of  us.     We  put  spurs  to  our  horses,  and  speedily  got  out 
of  sight.     Under  the  actual  circumstances,  the  attack  was  little 
lietter  than  murder,  but  if  they  had  fired  a  dozen  guns  at  once, 
they  must  have  killed  us." 

Count  Bertrand  brought  back  Napoleon's  letter  to  Cajitain 
Poppleton,  broke  the  seal  before  him,  and  desired  that  it  might 
be  sent  in  that  state  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 

Some  oranges  sent  to  Longwood  by  the  admiral. 

l4//(. — Napoleon  very  unwell.     Had  passed  a  very  Ijad  night. 


1816 — DECEMBER.  171 

Found  him  in  bed  at  eleven,  P.  M.  "  Doctor,"  said  he,  "  I  had 
a  nervous  attack  last  night,  which  kept  me  continually  uneasy 
and  restless,  with  a  severe  headache,  and  involuntary  agitations. 
I  was  without  sense  for  a  few  moments.  I  verily  thought  and 
hoped,  that  a  more  violent  attack  would  have  taken  place,  which 
would  have  carried  me  off  before  morning.  I  seemed  as  if  a  fil 
of  apoplexy  was  coming  on.  I  felt  a  heaviness  and  giddiness  ol 
my  head,  (as  if  it  were  overloaded  with  blood)  with  a  desire  to 
put  myself  in  an  upright  posture.  I  felt  a  heat  in  my  head,  and 
called  to  those  about  me  to  pour  some  cold  water  over  it,  which 
they  did  not  comprehend  for  some  time.  Afterwards,  the  water 
felt  hot,  and  I  thought  it  smelt  of  sulphur,  though  in  reality  it 
was  cold."  At  this  time  he  was  in  a  free  perspiration,  which  I 
recommended  him  to  encourage,  and  his  headache  was  much 
diminished.  After  I  had  recommended  everything  I  thought 
necessary  or  advisable,  he  replied,  "si  viveredhe  troppo  hmgo.''''* 
He  afterwards  spoke  about  funeral  rites,  and  added,  that  when 
he  died,  he  would  wish  that  his  body  might  be  burned.  "  It  is 
the  best  mode,"  said  he,  "  as  then  the  corpse  does  not  produce 
any  inconvenience  ;  and  as  to  the  resurrection,  that  must  be  ac- 
complished by  a  miracle,  and  it  is  easy  to  the  Being  who  has  it 
in  his  power  to  perform  such  a  miracle  as  bringing  the  remains 
of  bodies  together,  also  to  form  again  the  ashes  of  the  dead." 

\^th. — Had  a  long  conversation  with  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  rela- 
tive to  the  affairs  of  Longwood,  and  to  Napoleon's  health.  His 
excellency  said,  that  he  supposed  it  was  Count  Bertrand  who  had 
informed  Count  Las  Cases,  that  he  (Sir  Hudson)  would  send  him 
off  the  island,  if  he  persisted  in  writing  any  more  injurious  re- 
flections upon  the  manner  that  General  Bonaparte  was  treated  : 
that  he  would  hold  him  (Bertrand)  answerable  for  the  conse- 
quences. He  also  observed,  that  as  to  the  restrictions  which  had 
been  so  much  complained  of,  there  was  in  reality  but  little  differ- 
ence ;  that  with  respect  to  the  prohibition  to  speak,  which  General 
Bonaparte  complained  of,  it  was  not  an  order  to  him  not  to  speak, 
hut  merely  a  reqvest ! ! !  He  also  added,  that  Las  Cases  had 
attempted  to  send  a  secret  accusation  against  him,  which  was  like 

*  One  would  live  too  long. 


172  A    VOICE    FliOM    ST.    HELENA. 

stabbing  a  iimii  in  the  bacl<,  an<l  liial  tlioy  innst  bo  conscious  they 
were  tolling  lies,  or  thoy  woiiM  not  bo  afraid  to  send  tlieni  to 
England  throngh  him,  as  ho  had  dflored  to  forward  thorn.  In  his 
conversation  with  Bortiand,  ho  merely  had  observed,  that  accord- 
ing tt>  his  instructions,  he  ouffht  to  have  sent  Las  Cases  ofl'  the 
island,  in  consequence  of  the  letters  he  had  written.  His  instruc- 
tions, he  said,  were  of  such  a  nature,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
draw  a  line  between  some  which  directed  that  General  Bonajiarte 
should  be  treated  with  great  indulgence;  and  others,  prescribing 
regulations  and  restrictions  impossible  to  be  reconciled  with  the 
first. 

That  he  had  in  consequence  written  for  further  explanations, 
and  had  recommended  the  lessening  of  the  existing  restrictions. 

10///. — Saw  Napoleon,  to  whom  I  repeated  what  the  governor 
had  desired.  Napoleon  replied,  "  he  sent  back,  and  refused  to 
forward  a  letter  of  complaints,  sent  to  him  by  Montholon  ;  he 
told  Bertrand,  that  he  would  receive  no  letters  in  which  I  was 
not  styled  as  his  government  wished  ;  and  he  sent  up  by  his 
chefd'  itat  major,  a  paper,  menacing  with  transportation  from  the 
island  all  those  who  should  make  reflections  upon  him  or  his  go- 
vernment; independent  of  his  having  given  Bertrand  clearly  to 
understand,  that  if  Las  Cases  continued  his  complaints,  he  would 
send  him  from  St.  Helena.  In  orders  like  his,  there  must  be 
always  some  apparent  contradiction,  and  great  discretionary 
powers ;  but  he  interprets  every  thing  badly,  and  where  there  is 
a  possibility  of  putting  a  bad  construction  upon  any  part,  which 
would  as  well  admit  of  a  favorable  one,  he  is  sure  to  choose  the 
former.  Un  uomo  che  ha  la  malizla,  ma  non  Vanima,  (a  man 
who  has  malice  but  no  genius.)  Perhaps  he  sees  that  he  has 
gone  too  far,  and  now  wants  to  saddle  the  odium  of  his  proceed- 
ings upon  his  government." 

18^A. — Went  along  with  Mr.  Baxter  to  visit  Count  Las  Cases 
and  son.  The  Count  informed  me,  that  the  governor  had  given 
him  permission  to  return  to  Longwood,  under  certain  conditions, 
but  that  he  had  not  entirely  decided  what  he  would  do.  Young 
Las  Cases  said,  that  his  father  feared  he  should  be  looked  upon 
in  a  slighting  manner  at  Longwood,  if  he  returned,  in  consequeuov 


1816 — DECEMBER.  178 

of  the  disgraceful  manner  in  which  he  had  been  arrested  and 
dragged  away  by  the  governor's  police. 

Informed  Napoleon  on  my  return  that  the  governor  had  offered 
to  allow  Las  Cases  to  return  to  Longwood.  After  some  discus- 
sion on  the  subject,  he  observed,  that  he  would  give  no  advice  to 
Las  Cases  about  it.  If  he  came  back,  he  would  receive  him  with 
pleasure:  if  he  went  away,  he  would  hear  of  it  with  pleasure; 
but  that  in  the  latter  case,  he  should  wish  to  see  him  once  more 
before  he  left  the  island.  He  added,  that  since  the  arrest  of  Las 
Cases,  he  had  ordered  all  his  generals  to  go  away  ;  that  he  should 
be  more  independent  without  them,  as  then  he  should  not  labor 
under  the  fear  of  their  suffering  ill-treatment  by  the  governor,  in 
order  thereby  to  revenge  himself  upon  him.  "  I,"  continued  he, 
"  am  not  afraid  that  they  will  send  me  off  the  island." 

Saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  said,  that  with  the  exception  of 
certain  necessary  restrictions,  he  had  orders  from  government  to 
treat  General  Bonaparte  with  all  possible  indulgence,  which  he 
thought  he  had  done.  That  if  some  restrictions  had  been  im- 
posed, it  was  his  own  fault,  and  that  of  Las  Cases.  That  he  had 
been  very  mild  ! !  This  he  desired  me  to  communicate.  Shortly 
afterwards,  he  said,  that  if  Count  Bertrand  had  shown  his  (Sir 
Hudson's)  restrictions  to  Sir  Thomas  Strange,  he,  the  governor, 
would  have  been  authorized  to  send  him  off  the  island.  Nearly 
in  the  same  breath,  he  asked  if  I  thought  that  the  interference  of 
Sir  George  Bingham,  as  an  intermediator,  would  be  of  any  ser- 
vice ?  I  replied,  that  probably  it  might,  but  as  Sir  George  Bing- 
ham did  not  speak  Fi'ench  with  sufficient  fluency  to  enter  into 
long  discussions  or  reasonings,  1  was  of  opinion  that  admiral  Sir 
Pulteney  Malcolm  would  be  a  much  better  intermediator. 

Told  Napoleon  what  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  directed.  "  Doc- 
tor," replied  he,  "  when  this  man  has  the  audacity  to  tell  you, 
who  know  everything  that  has  been  done,  that  he  treats  me  with 
indulgence,  1  need  not  suggest  to  you  what  he  writes  to  his 
government." 

Informed  me,  that  last  night  he  had  suffered  another  attack, 
simikr  to  that  of  the  13th,  but  more  violent.     "  Ali,"*  said  he, 

*  St.  Denis  was  commonly  called  Ali. 


174  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    HKLENA. 

"  frightonod,  (hnw  soim-  oaii  dc  (^iIoi;iic  in  iii}-  face,  mistaking  it 
for  water.  This  <;etting  into  my  eyes,  gave  me  Intolerable  pain, 
and  certainly  hronght  me  to  myself." 

Ttild  him  what  Sir  ITndson  Lowe  had  said,  relative  to  the  in- 
termediation of  Sir  George  Bingliam.  lie  replied,  "  perhaps  it 
•night  he  of  some  service  j  Imt  all  he  has  to  do  is,  cite  esca  del 
«»/<>  riiolo  di  aircericre  e  die  si  inetta  nel  ruolodi  gidantuoitio*  If 
>iny  person  were  to  nndertake  the  ofHee  of  intermediator,  the 
most  fit  would  lie  the  admiral,  both  because  he  is  independent  of 
Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  and  because  he  is  a  man  with  whom  I  can 
reason  and  argue.  But,"  continued  he,  '■'■  questo  governatore  e  un 
itomo  senza  fede,  (this  governor  is  a  man  without  faith).  When 
your  ministry  is  insincere,  wants  to  shuffle,  or  has  nothing  good 
to  e.xecute,  a  polissori,  (blackguard)  like  Drake,  or  Hudson  Lowe, 
is  sent  out  as  ambassador,  or  governor ;  when  it  is  the  contrary, 
and  it  wishes  to  conciliate  or  treat,  such  a  man  as  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  is  employed.  A  Cornwallis  here,  would  be  of  more  avail 
than  all  the  restrictions  that  could  be  imagined."  He  then  ob- 
served, that  he  thought  it  would  be  better  for  Las  Cases  to  return 
back  to  Longwood,  than  either  to  remain  in  the  island  separated 
from  them,  or  sent  to  the  Cape,  and  that  I  might  report  that  I 
had  heard  him  say  so. 

21s/. — A  letter  received  from  Major  Gorrequer,  stating  that 
the  governor  would  permit  Archambaud  to  see  his  brother  on  the 
following  day,  who,  with  Santini  and  Rousseau,  had  arrived  in 
the  Orontes  frigate  from  the  Cape.f 

'22nd. — Archambaud  allowed  to  see  his  brother  in  the  presence 
•.f  one  of  the  governor's  agents,  but  not  permitted  either  to  see 
or  converse  with  any  of  the  others. 

2Srd. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  at  Longwood  ;  informed  him  what 
Napoleon  had  said  about  Las  Cases.  He  told  me  that  Las  Cases 
wanted  to  make  terms,  previous  to  returning  to  Longwood,  and 
desired  me  to  "go  to  Hut's  Gate,  and  tell  him  what  General 
Bonaparte  had   said  ;  but  not  to  hold  any  other  communication 

•  This  means,  "  let  him  conduct  himself  no  longer  as  a  gaoler,  but  behav* 
like  a  gentleman." 
t  ThJB  requerit  iiad  been  at  first  reAised  by  Sir  UndBon  Lowe. 


1816 — DECEMBER.  \7t 

with  him."  T  mentioned  to  his  excellency  the  fit  of  syncope 
with  which  Napoleon  had  been  attacked  :  "  It  would  Le  lucky," 
replied  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  "if  he  went  off  some  of  those  nights 
in  a  fit  of  the  kind."  I  observed  that  I  thouo;ht  it  very  probable 
that  he  would  be  attacked  with  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  which  would 
finish  him,  and  that,  continuing  to  lead  his  present  mode  of  life, 
it  was  impossible  he  could  remain  in  health.  Sir  Hudson  asked 
what  could  induce  him  to  take  exercise.  1  replied,  to  moderate 
the  restrictions,  and  to  remove  some  of  which  he  complained  of 
as  such.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  made  some  observations  about  the 
danger  of  allowing  a  man  to  get  loose  who  had  done  so  much 

o  o  o 

mischief  already,  and  desired  me  to  write  him  a  statement  of 
the  health  of  young  Las  Cases.  I  replied  that  I  was  going  to  see 
him,  in  company  with  Mr.  Baxter.  His  excellency  observed  that 
he  would  go  and  have  some  conversation  with  Count  Bertrand  on 
the  subjects  complained  of. 

On  my  return,  met  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  appeared  in  a  very 
bad  humor,  and  said,  that  Count  Bertrand  had  for  a  short  time 
spoken  very  reasonably,  but  that  afterwards  he  had  broken  out 
foolishly  about  noire  sihiadon,  (our  situation)  just  as  if  it  were 
of  any  consequence  to  England,  or  to  Europe,  what  became  of 
Count  Bertrand  ;  or  as  if  it  were  not  Bonaparte  alone  who  was 
looked  after — that  he  did  not  know  what  business  he  had  to 
couple  his  situation  with  Bonaparte's. 

Mrs.  Balcombe  and  eldest  daughter  came  to  see  Countess 
Bertrand.  They  were  desirous  of  paying  a  visit  to  Napoleon, 
and  to  Countess  Montholon,  but  as  their  pass  specified  Count 
Bertrand's  house,  and  did  not  mention  either  of  the  others,  it 
was  not  permitted  by  the  orderly  officer. 

Saw  Napoleon  afterwards.  "This  governor,"  said  he,  "  has 
been  with  Bertrand,  making  some  proposals,  but  in  such  a  dark 
and  mysterious  manner,  that  one  cannot  understand  what  object 
he  has  in  view.  Every  thing  he  says  is  destitute  of  clearness; 
and  when  he  reluctantly  gives  the  truth,  it  is  enveloped  in  quib- 
bles and  evasions.  He  had  a  hmg  pour2)arler  (conference)  about 
Las  Cases,  which  he  concluded  by  asserting,  that  Las  Cases  was 
not  in  prison,  and  never  had  been  so! — E  un  uoino  composto  dHm- 


176  A    VOICK    KKDM    ST.    IIKI,EN"A. 

^cilita,  di  hii>/le,  et  trim  pocn  <//'  sat/tn::zti,  (lie  is  a  man  composed 
of  iiulicoility,  nt"  li»'s,  and  a  littlo  villaiiv.)  ('an  has  ( "asos  jro 
out?  Can  ho  seo  any  pt-rson,  eitlicr  Frt-mli,  or  English,  liosidcs 
his  gaoli-rs?  (for  sooing  a  surgeon  is  nothing.)  Can  he  senJ  or 
receive  a  letter  tliat  does  nut  pass  open  throu^li  their  hands  ?  I 
know  not  really,"  eontinued  he,  "  what  this  man  culls  being  in 
prison." 

"  What  a  fool  1  was  to  give  myself  up  to  you,"  continued  he; 
"1  had  a  mistaken  notion  of  your  national  character;  I  had 
formed  a  romantic  idea  of  the  English.  There  entered  into  it 
also  a  portion  of  pride.  1  disdained  to  give  myself  up  to  any  of 
those  sovereigns  whose  countries  I  had  conquered,  and  whose 
capitals  1  had  entered  in  triumph;  and  I  determined  to  ct)nfide  in 
you,  whom  I  had  never  vanquished.  Doctor,  I  am  well  punished 
for  the  good  opinion  I  had  of  you,  and  for  the  confidence  which  I 
reposed  in  you,  instead  of  giving  myself  up  to  my  father-in-law, 
or  to  the  Emperor  Alexander,  either  of  whom  would  have  treated 
me  with  the  greatest  respect."  I  observed,  that  it  was  po.ssible 
that  Alexander  might  have  sent  him  to  Siberia;  "  Not  at  all," 
replied  Napoleon  ;  "  setting  aside  other  motives,  Alexander 
would,  through  policy,  and  from  the  desire  which  he  has  to  make 
himself  popular,  have  treated  me  like  a  king,  and  I  should  have 
had  palaces  at  command.  Besides,  Alexander  is  a  generous 
man,  and  would  have  taken  a  pleasure  in  treating  me  well  ;  and 
my  father-in-law,  though  he  is  an  imbecile,  is  still  a  religious 
man,  and  incapable  of  committing  crimes,  or  such  acts  of  cruelty 
as  are  practiced  here." 

Saw  Las  Cases  and  son  along  with  Mr.  Baxter.  Wrote  a 
letter  afterwards  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  respecting  the  state  of 
health  of  young  Las  Cases,  and  concluded  Ity  recommending  him 
to  be  removed  to  Euroj)e  for  tlie  recovery  of  his  health.  Mr. 
Baxter  also  wrote  one  of  a  similar  tendency,  and  one  aljout 
the  Count  himself,  in  which  he  said,  that  in  consequence  of  his 
being  afflicted  with  dyspepsia,  it  was  probable  that  a  change  to  a 
colder  climate  would  be  beneficial,  and  that  that  of  Europe 
would  be  preferable. 

25/A. — Napoleon  in  very  good  spirits.     Asked  many  questions 


1816 — DECEMBER.  177 

in  English,  which,  although  he  pronounced  it  as  he  would  have 
done  French,  yet  the  words  were  correct,  and  applied  to  their 
proper  meaning. 

2Qih. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  me.  Found  him  in  town. 
He  observed  that  I  had  put  too  much  political  feeling  into  my 
letter  respecting  young  Las  Cases  :  that  my  opinion  must  have 
related  to  what  would  have  happened,  had  he  remained  at  Lono-. 
wood  ;  and  that  it  appeared  to  enter  too  much  into  the  feelings 
of  those  people.  I  replied,  that  1  could  not  separate  my  opinion 
from  the  cause  of  his  complaints;  and  that  he  himself  had  said,  if 
the  state  of  his  son's  health  absolutely  required  his  removal  to 
Europe,  he  would  not  oppose  it.  Sir  Hudson  answered,  that  he 
had  certainly  said,  that  if  it  absolutely  required  such  a  measure, 
he  would  not  oppose  it ;  but  that  I  had  entered  into  a  discussion 
not  called  for  in  the  letter. 

He  then  spoke  about  the  restrictions,  and  showed  me  a  letter 
which  he  said  he  intended  to  send  to  Bertrand,  and  upon  which 
he  desired  to  know  my  opinion.  After  reading  it,  I  observed  to 
his  excellency  that  I  thought  it  calculated  to  produce  some  severe 
remarks  from  Napoleon ;  as  in  fact  it  left  matters  in  nearly  the 
same  state  as  they  had  been  before,  after  having  nominally  re- 
moved some  of  the  restrictions.  On  a  little  reflection,  his  ex- 
cellency appeared  to  be  of  the  same  opinion,  and  said  that  he 
would  reconsider  the  matter.  In  the  mean  time,  he  authorized 
me  to  tell  General  Bonaparte,  that  several  of  the  restrictions 
should  be  removed,  especially  those  relative  to  speaking ;  that 
•he  limits  should  be  enlarged,  and  that  liberty  should  be  granted 
o  people  to  visit  him,  nearly  as  in  former  times  under  the 
idmiral. 

Informed  Napoleon  of  this,  who  replied,  that  he  desired  no 
Tfiore  than  to  have  niatters  put  as  nearly  as  possible  as  they  were 
under  the  admiral.  That  he  thought  it  right  and  just  if  the  go- 
vernor suspected  either  an  inhabitant  of  the  island,  or  a  passenger, 
or  any  of  them,  that  he  should  not  allow  them  to  enter  Longwood, 
but  that  what  he  (Napoleon)  meant  was,  that  the  nuijority  of 
respectable  passengers  or  inhabitants  should  be  allowed  to  visit 
hiiii,  and  nut  one  or  two  who  had  been  picked  out  and  seut  up  to 

8* 


178  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

Longw»)od  1)V  tin;  govtMimr,  or  l)y  liis  staO',  a><  a  l\(('|n.'r  nf  g.'illoy 
slaves  would  soiul  a  curious  travclor  to  his  galleys  to  sc-c  some 
oxtisiord'Hury  crimiual.  if/'  continued  ho,  "  I  met  a  man  whoso 
C(>nvcrsation  pleased  me  (like  the  admiral,  for  example)  I  should 
wish  to  see  him  again,  and  perhaps  ask  him  to  dinner  or  break 
fast,  as  was  done  before  this  governor's  arrival  ;  therefore  I  wish 
iliat  a  list  should  be  sent  in  the  first  place  by  the  governor  to 
Hertrand,  containing  the  names  of  the  ]>ersons  that  he  will  allow 
to  visit  us;  and  that  afterwards,  Bertrand  shall  have  the  j>rivi- 
lege  of  asking  any  person  again  whose  name  is  upon  that  list. 
I  will  never  see  any  one  coming  up  with  a  pass  in  which  the  day 
is  fixed,  which  is  a  way  of  saying,  come  out  this  day  and  exhibit 
yourself.  I  want  also  that  our  situation  may  be  clearly  defined, 
so  that  my  household  shall  not  be  liable  to  the  insults  which  they 
have  all  suflfered,  and  ctmtinue  to  suflx-r,  either  from  being  kept 
in  the  dark  respecting  the  restrictions  which  he  imposes,  or  from 
misconception  of  sentinels,  or  the  orders  given  being  of  a  discre- 
tional nature,  which  may  put  a  sentinel  upon  his  responsibility, 
and  will  constitute  him  an  arbitrary  judge.  The  trifling  vexa- 
tions and  humiliations  which  he  makes  us  undergo,  are  worse  to 
us  than  the  greater.  J  am  willing,"  continued  he,  "  to  listen  to 
accommodation,  and  not  to  insist  upon  too  much.  But,  he  has 
no  heart  or  feeling.  lie  thinks  that  a  man  is  like  a  horse;  give 
him  a  bundle  of  hay  and  a  roof  to  cover  him,  and  nothing  further 
is  necessary  to  make  him  happy.  His  policy  is  that  of  the  petty 
states  of  Italy  ;  to  write  and  promise  fairly,  apparently  give 
liberty,  but  afterwards  by  insinuations  change  every  thing.  His 
is  the  policy  of  insinuations." 

I  then  asked,  if  the  governor  consented,  and  the  admiral  were 
satisfied,  would  he  hold  a  conference  with  that  officer  as  an  inter- 
mediator, in  order  to  bring  about  an  arrangement?  Napoleon 
replied,  "Willingly.  With  the  greatest  pleasure  I  would  treat 
personally  with  the  admiral,  and  I  think  that  we  could  settle  it  in 
half  an  hour.  I  have  so  much  confidence  in  him,  that  if  the  Eng- 
lish  government  would  allow  it,  and  the  admiral  would  pledge 
his  word  of  honor,  that  no  one  but  himself  should  know  the  con 
tonts,  (unless  there  was  some  plot  or  inti-'gue  against  his  goveri 


1816 — DECEMBER.  179 

ment,)  I  would  write  a  letter,  putting  him  in  possession  of  every 
thing  I  know  relative  to  my  property,  in  order  that  I  might  be 
able  to  make  use  of  it.  To-morrow,"  continued  he,  "'I  shall  let 
you  know  whether  I  am  of  the  like  opinion  relative  to  the  inter- 
mediation. If  1  continue  the  same,  you  shall  go  to  the  governor 
and  propose  it  to  him." 

A  htter  sent  by  Count  Bertrand  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  request 
ing  that  Count  Las  Cases  might  be  permitted  to  visit  Longwood 
previous  to  his  departure,  in  order  to  take  leave  of  the  Emperor. 

^Ith. — Gave  Napoleon  some  newspapers.  On  looking  over 
them,  he  observed  an  article  about  Pozzo  di  Borgo,  "  Pozzo  di 
Borgo,"  said  he,  "  was  deputy  to  the  legislative  body  during  the 
revolution.  He  is  a  man  of  talent,  an  intriguer,  and  knows 
France  well.  As  long  as  he  remains  there  as  ambassador,  you 
may  be  sure  that  Alexander  does  not  consider  Louis  to  be  firmly 
seated  upon  the  throne.  When  you  see  a  Russian  nominated  as 
ambassador,  you  may  then  conclude  that  Alexander  thinks  the 
Bourbons  likely  to  continue  in  France." 

He  then  desired  me  to  go  to  the  governor  and  tell  him,  "  that 
if  he  were  willing  to  come  to  an  amicable  arrangement,  he  (Na- 
poleon) thought  the  best  means  of  effecting  it  would  be  to  autho- 
rize the  admiral  to  act  as  an  intermediator.  That  if  such  were 
done,  he  had  little  doubt  but  matters  might  be  adjusted.  That 
he  wished  it  himself,  as  he  did  not  like  to  complain.  All  he 
wanted  was  to  live,  or  in  other  words,  that  the  restrictions  should 
not  be  of  such  a  nature  as  to  induce  a  person  to  wish  for  death. 
That  in  consequence  of  what  I  had  said  to  him,  he  had  ordered 
Bertrand  to  discontinue  writing  a  complaint,  which  he  had  in- 
tended to  have  sent  to  Lord  Castlereagh  for  the  Prince  Regent  ; 
and  in  fact,  that  he  was  desirous  an  accommodation  should  take 
place." 

Went  to  town  to  deliver  the  above  message.  Found  that  the 
governor  had  left  it  before  my  arrival.  Communicated  the  object 
of  my  mission  to  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  who  replied,  that  he  knew 
the  governor  would  never  consent  to  allow  the  admiral  to  act  as 
an  intermediator, — There  was  no  use  in  proposing  it.     I  replied, 


ISO  A    VOICE    FKOM    ST.    HELENA. 

th;»l  as  I  h.iH  bfoii  iliari^cd  witli  tlu-  tnessage,  1  must  deliver  it,  M 
porliaps  it  might  K-ad  tn  good  oll'octs. 

Wont  to  Plantation  llouso,  and  coniiuunicated  my  message  to 
Sir  Hudson  I^owe.  He  said,  "  that  he  would  accept  of  the  pro- 
posal, but  that  he  had  previously  to  decide  upon  a  very  delicate 
point,  whirh  might  break  off  any  proposed  arrangement.  That 
(leneral  IJonaparte  had  asked  to  see  Count  Las  Cases  licfbre  his 
departure,  which  would  do  away  the  great  object  he  had  had  in 
view  for  a  month  back,  vi/.  that  of  cutting  off  all  communication 
between  Longwood  and  Las  Cases.  That  General  Bonaparte 
might  make  important  and  dangerous  communications  to  Las 
Cases ;  in  order  to  obviate  which,  he  would  propose  that  a  staff- 
officer  should  be  present  at  the  demanded  interview,  which  it  was 
likely  might  anger  General  Bonaparte." 

He  then  wrote  the  following  words  on  a  piece  of  paper,  which 
he  desired  me  to  copy,  and  to  show  the  copy: — "The  governor 
is  not  conscious  of  ever  having  wilfully  given  to  General  Bona- 
parte any  just  cause  of  offence  or  disagreement.  He  has  seen 
with  pain  misunderstandings  arise  on  points  where  his  duty 
would  not  allow  him  to  pursue  any  other  course,  and  which 
might  have  been  frequently  removed  by  a  single  word  of  ex- 
planation. 

"Any  channel  by  which  he  may  think  such  misunderstandings 
may  be  removed,  the  governor  is  perfectly  ready  and  willing  to 
avail  himself  of." 

Sir  Hudson  then  gave  me  a  large  packet  for  Count  Bertrand, 
containing  his  answer  to  the  application  to  see  Las  Cases,  and 
some  explanations  relative  to  the  restrictions,  some  of  which  he 
said  he  was  willing  should  be  altered  ;  and  that  the  5th  paragraph 
of  the  restrictions  delivered  in  October  was  merely  meant  as  a 
civil  request  to  General  Bonaparte,  not  to  subject  himself  to  the 
interference  of  an  officer,  by  entering  into  long  conversations  with 
persons  not  authorized  by  the  governor  to  communicate  with 
him.  He  added,  that  he  would  have  some  conversation  with  the 
admiral,  previous  to  the  latter's  going  to  see  Napoleon,  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  upon  the  intermediation. 

28/A. — Napoleon  indisposed.     Had  passed  a  very  uneasy  night 


1816 — DECEMBER.  181 

and  had  suffered  considerably  from  headache.  Saw  him  at  three, 
P.  M.,  when  he  was  still  in  bed,  and  afflicted  with  sevt-re  head- 
ache. He  had  not  seen  any  one.  Informed  him  what  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe  said  respecting  the  proposed  intermediation.  I  did  not 
like  to  communicate  what  his  excellency  had  said  about  the  in 
terview  which  he  had  desired  to  have  with  Las  Cases,  as  I  thought 
it  "vonld  both  aggravate  his  illness  and  tend  to  impede  the  desir 
ed  accommodation.  While  I  was  in  his  bed-room,  Marchand 
came  in,  and  informed  him,  that  the  bath  which  he  had  ordered 
could  not  be  got  ready,  on  account  of  the  total  want  of  water  at 
Longwood.  However,  he  appeared  well  satisfied,  and  expressed 
his  fear,  that  if  Sir  Pulteney  came  up  this  day,  his  indisposition 
might  prevent  his  seeing  and  conversing  with  him.  He  desired 
me,  therefore,  to  tell  Count  Bertrand,  in  case  the  admiral  came, 
to  take  him  to  his  house,  show  him  the  necessary  papers,  and 
talk  the  matter  over ;  adding,  that  if  he  found  himself  well 
enough,  he  would  send  for  him,  but  if  not,  that  he  w^ould  appoint 
a  future  day. 

Saw  Count  Bertrand  afterwards,  who  asked  me  to  explain  the 
meaning  of  the  passage  in  his  excellency's  letter  in  which  he 
attempted  to  make  it  appear  that  the  prohibition  to  Napoleon  to 
speak  was  a  piece  of  civility.  Not  having  been  educated  for  a 
special  pleader,  I  felt  myself  at  a  loss  to  afford  any  explanation 
sufficient  to  establish  the  truth  of  the  governor's  doctrine. 

Sir  Pulteney  and  Lady  Malcolm  came  to  Longwood,  and  paid 
a  visit  to  Count  and  Countesses  Bertrand  and  Montholon.  No 
communication  had  been  yet  made  by  the  governor  to  Sir  Pulte- 
ney, who,  when  informed  of  the  proposal,  expressed  his  ardent 
wish  that  something  might  be  done  to  put  things  upon  a  better 
footing  between  Napoleon  and  the  governor ;  adding  that  he 
thought  that  if  the  matter  were  left  to  him,  he  could  arrange  it 
satisfact'M"i]y  in  a  very  little  time.  He  observed,  however,  that 
until  the  governor  authorized  him,  he  would  have  no  conversation 
on  the  subject  either  with  Napoleon  or  with  any  of  his  suite. 

Saw  Napoleon  in  the  evening  in  his  bed-room  along  with 
Marshal  Bertrand.  The  parcel  of  letters  which  I  had  brought 
from  the  governor  was  before  him.     He  had  just  been  informed 


182  A   VOICE    F1U)M   ST.    HELENA. 

.'f  his  reply  to  the  apj>licatioii  that  Count  Las  Cases  might  be 
allowed  to  visit  Longwood  before  his  departure.  He  observed, 
that  "eriininals  condemned  to  death,  and  on  the  point  of  being 
led  out  to  execution,  were  allowed  to  bid  adieu  to  their  friends, 
without  it  being  reipiired  that  a  third  person  slioidd  1)6  present." 
He  was  very  much  disjtloased.  and  expressed  in  strong  terms  hi^ 
indignation  at  such  Imrbarous  conduct.  He  then  asked  me  fur 
the  governor's  reply  to  the  proposal  I  had  made,  which  1  gave 
him  in  French  and  English,  having  made  a  translation  of  it  into 
the  former,  and  also  repeated  to  him  what  the  governor  had  ex- 
pressed to  me  relative  to  Las  Cases.  When  he  came  to  the 
words,  "  when  his  duty  would  not  allow  him,"  "  misunderstand- 
ing," &c.  "  Tracasserie"  (a  trick,)  said  he,  "this  is  the  language 
he  has  always  held.  It  is  an  insult  to  the  human  understanding. 
His  intentions  could  not  be  mistaken.  They  were  to  heap  all 
sorts  of  useless  vexations  upon  me.  I  cannot,"  continued  he, 
'•think  that  he  will  allow  the  admiral  to  act  as  intermediator. 
Depend  upon  it,  it  is  some  shuffling  trick  of  his,  and  that  he  will 
never  allow  it  to  come  to  a  conclusion."  Il3  then  /Jlctated  a  few 
lines  to  Count  Bertrand,  containing  a  protest  against  the  gov- 
ernor's conduct,  which  he  desired  him  to  write  out  fair  in  the 
next  room.  He  desired  me  to  communicate  to  the  governor  the 
remarks  which  he  had  made  upon  his  conduct,  and  observed, 
that  he  hoped  the  admiral  would  not  commence  any  proceedings 
without  having  first  made  himself  perfectly  master  of  the  sub- 
ject, in  order  not  to  allow  himself  to  hejotie  by  the  governor; 
who  would  probably  fill  him  with  those  falsehoods  which  he 
always  had  at  command.  "  1  should  be  sorry  that  the  admiral," 
continued  he,  "  should  undertake  any  thing  likely  to  prove  abor- 
tive, as  I  have  an  esteem  for  him." 

Sir  Thomas  Reade  all  day  in  consultation  at  Plantation  House. 

20ik. — A  letter  from  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  for  Count  Bertrand, 
arrived  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Saw  Napoleon  at  two, 
P.  M.  Informed  me,  that  as  the  governor  had  fourteen  or  fifteen 
days  ago  expressed  a  wish  to  know  what  the  French  complained 
of,  he  had  directed  Bertrand  to  send  him  a  copy  of  his  restric- 
tions, with  some  observations  thereupon,  in  order  that  he  might 


1816 — DECEMBER.  1.8S 

think  and  reflect  upon  them.  Also  that  he  had  caused  the  fol 
lowing  remarks  to  be  written  upon  the  back  of  tlie  memorandum 
containing  the  governor's  sentiments,  which  I  had  delivered  to 
him  yesterday,  and  which  he  directed  me  to  forward  to  Sir  Ilud- 
Bon  Lowe : — 

"1.  On  ne  peut  justifier  la  conduite  qu'on  tient  depuis  six 
mois  par  quelques  phrases  de  la  correspondance  du  ministre. 
line  longue  et  volumineuse  correspondance  ministerielle  est  un 
arsenal  oil  W  y  a,  des  armes  a,  tout  tranchant. 

"  2.  Les  derniers  reglemens  seraient  consideres  a  Botany  Bay 
comme  injurieux  et  oppressifs  ;  ils  doivent  etre,  quoique  Ton  en 
dise,  contraires  a  la  volonte  du  gouvernement  Anglais,  qui  a  ap 
prouve  les  reglemens  qui  ont  ete  en  vigueur  jusqu'au  mois  d'AouL 
dernier. 

"  3.  Toutes  les  observations  que  le  Comte  Bertrand  et  le  Comte 
de  Montholon  ont  faites  ont  ete  inutiles.  Une  libre  discussion  leur 
a  ete  interdite  par  des  menaces."* 

"  This  governor,"  said  he,  "  is  a  man  totally  unfit  to  fill  the 
situation  he  holds.  He  has  a  good  deal  of  cunning,  but  no 
talent  or  steadiness.  Ceso  un  homme  soupfonneux,asiucieux,  men- 
teur,  double,  et  plein  (T insinuations,  (he  is  a  suspicious  and  artful 
man.  A  liar,  deceitful,  and  full  of  insinuations,)  like  the  Italians 
of  two  or  three  centuries  ago.  Cest  ^m  excellent  familier  de  V in- 
quisition. II  mettrait  de  Vastuce  a  dire  le  bon  jour.  Je  crois  qu^il 
en  met  a  manger  son  dejeuner,  (he  would  be  an  excellent  familiar 
of  the  inquisition.  He  would  use  dissimulation  even  in  saying 
good  morning.  I  believe  that  he  uses  it  in  eating  his  breakfast). 
He  ought  to  be  sent  to  Goa.  Bertrand  wrote  that  he  hoped  hi 
would  not  refuse  his  consent  to  a  matter  of  so  little  consequence 
as  that  of  permitting  Las  Cases  to  come  up  here.  If  he  refuses 
Bertrand  will  go  down  to  see  him  along  with  an  officer,  which  1 
could  not  consent  to  do." 

"  What  can  he  be  afraid  of?"  continued  he,  "that  I  would  tell 
him  to  write  to  my  wife  ?  Ho  will  do  that  without  my  direction. 
That  I  would  tell  him  my  sentiments  and  intentions  ?    He  knows 

*The  translation  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  No.  VJil. 


184  A   VinCE  FROM   8T.    HKLKNA. 

lliom  ttlroftdv.  Does  ho  think  that  Europe  is  a  mine  of  gun- 
powder, and  Las  Cases  the  spark  to  blow  it  up?" 

A  letter,  suliscribed  ''  in  haste,"  from  Sir  Hudson,  was  given 
to  Captain  Poppletun,  containing  one  for  Count  Bertrand,  signi- 
fying that,  ''  in  consequence  of  the  inanncr  in  which  Count  Las 
Cases  had  been  removed  from  Longwood,  the  governor  could  net 
piMinit  him  to  take  leave  of  General  Bonaparte,"  &cc.  Shortly 
afterwards.  Count  Bertrand  and  Baron  Gourgaud  went  to  town, 
accompanied  by  Captain  Poppleton,  to  see  and  take  leave  of 
Count  Las  Cases.  It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  the  conduct  pursued 
towards  them  there,  with  the  other  measures  practiced  by  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  and  with  the  importance  which  he  professed  to 
attach  to  ^^  cutting  o^' aW  communication  with  Longwood."  At 
breakfast  they  were  left  to  themselves,  with  the  exception  of 
Captain  Poppleton,  who  understands  French  with  difficulty,  and 
not  at  all  when  spoken  in  the  quick  manner  in  which  Frenchmen 
usually  converse  with  each  other.  For  some  hours  ihey  remained 
together  in  the  large  room  of  the  castle,  which  is  about  fifty  feet 
by  twenty,  walking  up  one  side,  while  Colonel  Wynyard  and 
Major  Gorrequer,  who  were  to  watch  them,  remained  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  room  ;  so  that,  in  fact,  Las  Cases  might  just 
as  well  have  been  permitted  to  come  to  Longwood,  and  thereby 
a  refusal,  which  was  considered  as  an  insult,  would  have  been 
spared  to  Napoleon. 

Abciut  three,  P.  M.,  Las  Cases  and  his  son  embarked  on  b  >ard 
of  the  Griffi^n,  sloop  of  war,  Captain  Wright,  for  the  Cape  of  Gc«  d 
Hope.  He  was  accompanied  to  the  sea-side  by  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe,  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  &c.  His  journal  and  papers,  except  a 
few  of  no  consequence,  were  detained  by  the  governor.  Previous 
to  his  departure,  he  made  over  4,000^.  (which  he  had  in  a  banker's 
hands  in  London,)  for  Napoleon's  use. 

I  saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  on  horseback  in  the  street,  who  called 
out  t.:  me  when  passing,  "your  negotiation  has  failed." 

About  five  hundred  pounds'  worth  of  plate  brought  down  by 
Cipriani  in  the  morning  to  be  sold.  When  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
saw  it,  he  sent  for  Cipriani,  of  whom  he  demanded,  in  what 
manner  they  could  spend  so  much  money  ?     Cipriani,  (an  arch, 


18.6 — DECEMBER.  l86 

intelligent  Corsican)  replied,  "To  buy  food."  His  excellency 
affected  surprised,  and  said,  "What,  have  you  not  enough?" 
"  We  have  purchased,"  said  Cipriani,  "  so  many  fowls,  so  much 
butter,  bread,  meat,  and  divers  other  articles  of  food  daily  for 
some  months,  and  I  have  to  thank  your  chef  cfetat  major,  Colonel 
Reade,  for  his  goodness  in  not  only  procuring  me  many  things 
that  I  wanted,  but  for  his  Icindness  in  seeing  that  the  people  did 
not  impose  upon  me  when  I  was  paying  for  them."  Sir  Hudson 
was  a  little  disconcerted  at  this  reply  at  first ;  but  afterwards 
resuming  an  appearance  of  astonishment,  asked,  "  Why  do  you 
buy  so  much  butter,  or  so  many  fowls?"  "  Because,"  replied 
Cipriani,  "  the  allowance  granted  by  vostra  excellenza  (your  excel- 
lency) does  not  give  us  enough  to  eat.  You  have  taken  oif 
nearly  half  of  what  the  admiral  allowed  us."  Cipriani  then 
gave  him  an  account  in  detail  of  their  wants;  explained  the  dif- 
ference between  the  French  and  English  mode  of  living,  and  ac- 
counted satisfactorily  for  every  thing.  Sir  Hudson  said,  that  the 
scheme  of  allowances  had  been  hastily  made  out ;  that  he  would 
look  into  it,  and  endeavor  to  increase  the  quantity  of  those  ar- 
ticles of  piovisions  of  which  they  stood  most  in  need ;  and  that 
on  the  next  arrival  from  England,  he  expected  a  change  for  the 
better. 

31s7. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  me  at  six  in  the  morning. 
Soon  after  my  arrival,  he  called  me  into  a  private  room,  and  in 
a  very  solemn  manner  said,  that  he  had  sent  for  me  aljout  a  very- 
extraordinary  circumstance;  that  last  evening  the  Baron  Sturmer 
had  written  a  note  to  Major  Gorrequer,  stating  that  General  Bo- 
naparte had  had  a  fainting  fit,  accompaiiied  by  fever !  some  time 
back,  and  detailing  the  fact  of  the  eau  de  Cologne  having  been 
thrown  in  his  face,  and  some  other  circumstances,  and  begging  to 
know  if  it  were  true,  as  such  stories  were  good  to  send  to  his 
court.  His  excellency  said,  that  he  was  very  much  surprised 
how  Baron  Sturmer  could  know  that  General  Bonaparte  had  ex- 
perienced a  fit,  or  any  of  the  circumstances  attending  it;  and 
asked  me  to  whom  1  had  told  it.  I  leplied,  "  1  mentioned  it  to 
none  but  yourself,  your  staflf,  possibly  the  admiral,  and  Baxter, 
?7lcm  I  consulted  professionally  upon  the  matter;  that  moreover 


ISrt  A   VOICE    FKCM    ST     HELENA. 

iiKiii)  of  till'  «.'iri'iiinst;iiHHs  (.Ktaili'il  in  llie  Maiun's  It'ter  vrera 
falsehoods;  also  tliat  evi-i)  body  at  Loiigwood  knew  that  Tla- 
poloon  had  had  a  faiiitiuy  fit  on  the  iii<:;ht  he  had  meiitioiied,  as 
well  as  the  eireiiiustanees  whieh  aeeuinpanied  it."  His  excelleticy 
then  gave  me  some  adviee  about  the  necessity  of  secrecy,  and 
desired  me  to  write  him  a  statement  of  the  business,  in  order 
that,  as  it  had  unfortunately  gut  abroad,  he  might  be  aljle  to 
contradict  any  incorrect  account  of  it ;  thai  he  supposed  the  ad 
miral  had  repeated  it  to  Moiitchciiu  or  Stunner. 

Saw  the  admiral  in  town,  who  told  me  that  I  had  not  men- 
tioned the  circumstance  to  him,  nor  had  he  dune  so  either  to 
Montehenu  or  Sturmer  ;  but  that  half  the  tuw  n  knew  it,  which  I 
was  soon  convinced  of  by  the  number  of  questions  put  to  me  by 
divers  persons  before  leaving  it. 

Saw  Napoleon  on  my  return.  "  Vera7}ie)ite"  said  he,  laughing, 
'•  vosiro  governatore  e  vtia  bestia  die  non  ha  se^iso  connnnne 
(Really,  your  guvernor  is  an  idiot,  and  without  common  sense). 
His  conduct  within  a  few  days  has  proved  his  incapacity  more 
than  ever.  He  comes  up  here  with  an  army  of  staff,  just  as  if 
he  were  going  to  take  a  town  by  assault,  seizes  Las  Cases,  drags 
him  away,  keeps  him  au  secret  for  some  weeks  ;  he  then  offers  to 
allow  him  to  return  back.  Las  Cases  is  determined  to  go  away. 
This  governor,  in  a  most  brutal  manner,  refuses  to  allow  him  to 
take  leave  of  me,  although  at  the  same  time  he  offers  to  allow 
him  to  return  to  Long  wood  until  he  hears  from  England  ;  and, 
to  crown  the  business,  he  permits  Bertrand  and  Gourgaud  to  go 
down  and  converse  with  him  fur  huurs.  Bertrand  tells  me,  that 
they  had  every  opportunity  for  communication  that  they  could 
desire,  and  every  facility  of  informing  him  of  my  wishes,  and  of 
giving  him  letters.  Ah,"  continued  he,  "  if  all  in  England  were 
like  him,  I  should  not  be  here  now.  Cest  un  homme  borne^  (he 
is  a  contracted  man)  a  poor  subject.  He  has  a  little  cunning, 
and  that  is  all,  without  any  firmness  or  consistency.  He  spoke 
to  Cipriani  yesterday,  to  whom  he  pretended  that  he  did  not 
know  we  had  not  enough  of  provisions,  (although  his  privy  coun- 
sellor Reade  has  assisted  Cipriani  to  buy  l)read  and  salt  for  us 
for  seme  months)  and   professed   his  sorrow  that  the  plate  had 


1817 — JANUARY.  187 

oeeu  broken  up.  Verameiite  fa  pieia  (it  is  a  pity)  to  see  a 
great  nation  represented  by  such  a  man." 

Jan.  1st,  1817. — Saw  Napoleon  in  the  drawing-room.  Wished 
him  a  happy  new  year.  He  said  he  hoped  that  the  succeeding 
one  would  find  him  better  situated  ;  and  added,  laughing,  "per- 
haps I  shall  be  dead,  which  will  be  much  better.  Worse  than 
this  cannot  be."  He  was  in  very  good  spirits — spoke  about 
hunting  the  stag  and  the  wild  boar.  Showed  me  the  scar  of  a 
wound  in  the  inside  of  the  ring-finger,  which  he  told  me  he  had 
received  from  a  wild  boar  while  hunting,  accompanied  by  the 
Duke  of  Dalmatia.  Count  Montholon  came  in,  to  whom  Napo- 
leon whispered  something  ;  after  which  he  went  out,  and  returned 
with  a  snuft-box,  which  he  gave  to  the  emperor,  who  presented  it 
to  me  with  his  own  hands,  saying,  "  Here,  doctor,  is  a  present  I 
make  to  you  for  the  attention  which  you  manifested  towards  me 
during  my  illness."  It  is  needless  to  say  that  a  gift  from  the 
hands  (jf  such  a  man  was  received  with  sensations  of  pride,  and 
that  I  endeavored  to  express  the  sentiments  which  occupied  my 
mind. 

Napoleon  also  made  some  elegant  presents  to  Countesses  Ber- 
trand  and  Montholon,  consisting  of  some  of  the  beautiful  porce- 
lain, unique  in  che  world,  presented  to  him  by  the  city  of  Paris, 
with  some  handsome  crapes  ;  to  Count  Bertrand,  a  fine  set  of 
chess-men  ;  to  Count  Montholon,  a  handsome  ornament,  dzc.  All 
the  children  also  were  gratified  with  some  elegant  gift  from  him. 
The  weather  was  so  bad  and  so  foggy,  that  the  signet]  from  Dead- 
woud  could  not  be  discerned. 

2nd. — Cipriani  in  town,  buying  provisions. 

3rrf. — Napoleon  had  been  ill  during  the  night,  but  felt  better. 
In  pretty  good  spirits.  After  some  conversation,  I  asked  his 
opinion  about  Georges.  "  Georges,"  said  he,  "  was  una  bestia 
ii/norante,  (an  ignorant  blockhead).  He  had  courage,  and  that 
was  all.  After  the  peace  with  the  Chouans,  I  endeavored  to  gain 
him  over,  as  then  he  would  have  been  useful  to  me,  and  1  was 
anxious  to  calm  all  parties.  I  sent  for  and  spoke  to  him  for  a 
long  time.  His  father  was  a  miller,  and  he  was  an  ignorant  fel- 
low  himself     I  asked   him,  '  why  do  you  want  to  restore  those 


188  A   VOICK    KIU)M    ST.    HKLENA. 

Bon  rl  ions  ?  If  i-m-m  \  ou  wcw  to  siKH't'c(l  in  placing  thfin  upon 
the  thri>iu',  voii  would  still  be  only  a  miller's  sun  in  their  eyes. 
They  would  hold  you  in  contempt,  because  you  are  not  of  nol)!e 
birth.'  But  I  ft>und  that  he  had  ni«  heart  ;  in  fact,  thai  he  was 
not  a  Frenclimau.      A  few  days  after,  he  went  over  to  London." 

4//f. — The  JSpey  man-ot'-war  arrived,  and  brought  the  news  of 
the  destruction  of  the  Algeriiie  ships,  and  the  treaty  which  they 
had  been  obliged  to  make. 

bth. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  at  Longwood.  Had  a  long  conversa- 
tion with  him  concerning  the  restrictions.  His  excellency  said, 
that  he  had  no  objection  to  allow  General  Bonaparte  to  ride  to 
the  left  of  Hut's  Gate,  in  the  direction  of  Miss  Mason's;  but 
that  he  did  nut  like  to  grant  the  same  permission  to  his  attend- 
ants. I  observed,  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  draw  such  a  line 
of  distinction,  as  Napoleon  never  rode  out  without  being  accom- 
panied by  two  or  three  of  them.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  replied,  that 
he  had  no  objection  to  their  being  permitted  to  ride  in  that  direc- 
tion when  in  company  with  General  Bonaparte;  but  without 
him,  he  would  not  grant  it.  He  then  desired  me  to  tell  General 
Bonaparte,  that  he  might  ride  in  that  direction,  whenever  he 
pleased,  that  there  would  be  no  impediment  to  his  going.  I  ob- 
served that  he  had  better  make  Count  Bertrand  acc[uainted  with 
it:  and  also  that  some  notice  ought  to  l)e  given  to  the  sentinel 
at  Hut's  Gate,  otherwise  he  would  stop  him,  if  he  attempted  to 
avail  himself  of  the  permission.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  rej^licd,  that 
the  sentinel  had  no  orders  to  stop  him.  I  said  that  General 
Montholun  and  Gourgaud  had  been  stopped  several  times  when 
going  to  the  alarm-house,  though  within  the  limits.  The  gover- 
nor replied,  that  this  must  be  a  mistake,  as  the  sentinels  had  no 
orders  to  stop  them.  1  observed,  that  1  had  been  twice  stopped 
myself  by  the  sentinels  in  that  spot.  "  How  can  that  be,"  said 
Sir  Hudson,  "as  the  sentinels  have  orders  only  to  stop  French 
people?''''  I  answered,  that  the  sentinel  had  said,  that  he  had 
orders  to  stop  all  sus2)icioHi>  peojjle  ;  and  that  conceiving  uie  to 
be  one,  he  had  stopped  me,  for  which  1  could  not  blame  him. 
His  excellency  laughed  at  this,  then  observed  that  he  would  not 
enlarge  the  limits,  that  they  were  fixed ;  but  that  he  would  give 


1817 — JANtJARY.  189 

General  Bonaparte  leave  to  extend  his  rides  in,  different  directions^ 
and  ordered  me  to  tell  him,  "  that  he  might  ride  within  the  old 
limits  unaccompanied,  that  no  impediment  would  be  opposed." 

Saw  Napoleon  shortly  after,  to  whom  I  conveyed  his  excel- 
•  ency's  message.  He  asked  me  if  the  picquets  had  been  placed 
upon  the  hills  as  foi'merly,  when  he  used  to  ride  in  that  direction. 
[  replied,  that  I  had  not  observed  them.  He  took  out  his  glass 
and  looked  towards  the  spot  for  a  moment. 

Informed  Napoleon  of  the  Algerine  affiiir,  and  gave  him  a 
paper  which  contained  the  official  detail.  After  reading  it,  he 
professed  great  pleasure  that  those  barbarians  had  been  chastised, 
but  observed  that  the  victory  we  had  gained  did  not  alter  his 
opinion  as  to  the  best  mode  of  acting  with  them.  "You  might," 
•^aid  he,  "have  settled  it  equally  well  by  a  blockade.  It  no 
doubt  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  English  sailors  for  their 
bravery  and  skill ;  yet  still  1  think  that  it  was  hazarding  too 
much.  To  be  sure,  you  effected  a  great  deal,  and  got  away, 
because  your  seamen  are  so  good ;  but  that  is  an  additional  rea- 
son why  you  should  not  run  the  risk  of  sacrificing  them  against 
such  canaille.  There  are  no  other  seamen,  (except  the  Ameri- 
cans,) who  would  have  done  what  yours  have  effected,  or  per- 
haps have  attempted  it.  Notwithstanding  this,  and  that  you  have 
succeeded,  it  was  madness  and  an  abuse  of  the  navy,  to  attack 
batteries  elevated  above  your  ships,  which  you  could  not  injure ; 
to  engage  red  hot  balls  and  shells,  and  run  the  hiizard  of  losing 
a  fleet,  and  so  many  brave  seamen  against  such  canaille ;  inde- 
pendent of  the  disgrace  which  it  would  have  been  to  England  to 
be  beaten  by  the  barbarians,  which  ought  to  have  been  the  case. 
If  the  Algerines  had  fired  upon  you  in  coming  down,  instead  of, 
like  imljeciles,  allowing  you  to  take  up  your  position  quietly, 
and  anchor,  as  if  you  were  going  to  a  review,  you  would  not  have 
succeeded.  Suppose  the  Dey  of  Algiers  had  refused  to  agree  to 
Lord  Exinouth's  terms  the  next  day,  what  could  he  have  done? 
Nothing.  Depend  upon  it,  he  never  would  have  gone  in  to 
attack  them  a  second  time  with  disabled  ships,  and  powder  defi- 
cient. He  would  have  been  obliged  to  withdraw  his  fleet,  and  it 
w  lild  have  Ijcen  a  slap  in  the  face  for  England.     Moreover,  you 


lOO  A   VOICK    KKOM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

Iiavi-  taught  tliost-  wri'tcln's  what  ihvy  waiitt'il  f)r  tlic  defence  of 
tlio  place. " 

''  If  you  have  stnick  tenx)i-  into  them,  ami  that  the  terms  you 
have  made,"  continued  he,  "he  strictly  adheri'd  t«i  for  the  future, 
ycu  have  done  a  great  benefit  to  humanity,  as  well  as  having 
shown  much  maritime  skill  and  bravery  ;  Imt  I  do  not  believe 
that  the  Algerines  will  adhere  to  the  stipulation  that  prisoners 
are  not  to  be  made  slaves.  I  fear  that  they  will  be  worse  treat- 
ed than  they  were  before,  in  consequence  of  those  barbarians  not 
having  any  hope  of  ransom ;  which  was  the  only  reason  they 
spared  the  lives  of  their  captives.  But  now,  having  lost  the 
hope  of  making  money  by  them,  they  will  massacre  and  throw 
them  overboard,  or  else  mutilate  them  horribly  ;  for  you  know 
that  they  conceive  it  to  be  a  meritorious  action  to  destroy 
heretics," 

He  spoke  in  very  high  terms  of  Lord  Nelson,  and  indeed 
attempted  to  palliate  that  only  stigma  to  his  memory,  the  execu- 
tion of  Caraccioli ;  which  he  attributed  entirely  to  his  having 
been  deceived  by  that  wicked  woman,  Queen  Caroline,  through 
Lady  Hamilton,  and  to  the  influence  which  the  latter  had  over 
him. 

While  conversing  with  Napoleon,  General  Gourgaud  sent  in 
his  name  and  entered.  He  communicated  some  information  ra- 
ther in  discordance  with  the  message  which  the  governor  had 
directed  me  to  deliver.  It  appeared,  that  while  taking  a  ride 
within  the  limits,  he  was  stopped  about  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  by 
the  sentinel  at  Hut's  Gate,  and  detained,  until  released  by  the 
sergeant  commanding  the  guard.  He  added,  that  almost  every 
time  he  went  out,  the  same  thing  occurred,  the  sentinels  wishing 
to  screen  themselves  from  any  responsibility. 

6^//. — Communicated  this  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  and  brought 
him  a  letter  from  Captain  Poppleton  on  the  subject.  His  excel- 
lency denied  that  the  sentinels  had  ever  received  any  new  orders; 
and  that  it  was  the  fault  of  the  sentinel. 

Cipriani  informed  me  that  Pozzo  di  Borgo  was  the  son  of  a 
shepherd  in  Corsica,  who  used  to  bring  eggs,  milk,  and  butter,  to 
the  Bonaparte  family.     Being  a  smart   boy,  he  was  noticed  by 


1817— JANUARY.  1 91 

Madame  Mere,  who  paid  for  his  schooling.  Afterwards,  through 
the  interest  of  the  family,  he  was  chosen  deputy  to  the  legislative 
body,  as  their  sons  were  too  young  to  be  elected.  He  returned 
to  Corsica  as  procuratore  generate^  where  he  united  himself  with 
Peraldi,  an  implacable  enemy  of  the  Bonapartes,  and  consequent 
ly  became  one  himself. 

By  the  same  authority,  I  was  informed  that  Masseria,  on  his 
arrival  at  Paris,  in  order  to  obtain  an  interview  with  Napoleon, 
had  applied  to  him,  (Cipriani,)  for  advice  how  to  accomplish  this 
object,  stating  that  he  intended  to  apply  to  the  Arch  Chancellor. 
Cipriani  advised  him  by  no  means  to  do  so,  as  possibly  he  might 
be  arrested  and  tried,  (being  an  emigrant,)  in  which  case  he  must 
be  condemned  to  death  ;  but  to  apply  to  Madame  Mere,  to  whom 
he  was  known.  Masseria  followed  his  advice,  and  succeeded  in 
obtaining  an  interview,  although  he  failed  in  the  attempt  to  open 
a  negotiation.  In  a  subsequent  endeavor  to  obtain  another,  he 
received  a  hint  to  quit  France. 

On  making  inquiry  at  Hut's  Gate,  the  sergeant  commanding 
the  guard  showed  a  scrap  of  paper  containing  the  orders  to  the 
sentinels,  which  were,  "that  none  of  the  French,  not  even  Bona- 
parte himself,  were  to  be  permitted  to  pass  that  post,  unless  ac- 
companied by  a  British  officer."  The  sergeant  also  said,  what 
indeed  was  notorious,  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  frequently  gave 
verbal  orders  himself,  not  only  to  the  non-commissioned  officers 
of  the  guard,  but  sometimes  to  the  sentinels  themselves.  Thai 
those  orders  might  be  written  down  afterwards,  or  they  might 
not. 

Dined  with  Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm  in  town. 

Ith. — Napoleon  did  not  retire  to  rest  until  three  in  the  morn 
ing,  having  been  employed  dictating  and  writing  until  that  hour 
He  got  up  again  at  five,  and  went  into  a  warm  bath.  Eal 
nothing  until  seven  in  the  evening,  and  went  to  l)ed  before  eight. 

Sth. — Had  some  more  conversation  concerning  the  Algerine 
business.  Asked  him  if  it  were  ti'ue  that  Desaix  had,  a  little 
before  his  death,  sent  a  message  of  the  following  purport  to  him, 
"Tell  the  First  Consul,  that  I  regret  dying  before  I  have  done 
sufficient  to  make  my  name  known  to  postci'ity."     Napoleon  re- 


I?2  A   VOICE    KKoM    ST.    IIKLEXA. 

plied,  "It  was  true,"  ami  aiH-oinjianii'il  il  with  soim'  warm  eula 
giuins  on  l)t'>aix.  Ho  Itii-akfasti'd  this  nn)riiiiig  in  the  English 
niaiiiKT,  upon  a  liltlo  toast  and  tea.  Weather  so  loguy  lliiiL  sig- 
nals could  not  he  [•a^>ed. 

10//'. — Sir  Piilteiiey  Malcoliu,  accompanied  hy  Caplaui? 
Meynel  and  Wanchope,  R.  N.,  came  to  Longwood,  and  had  ii. 
interview  with  Napoleon.  lie  recounted  to  the  adinirai  a  sketch 
of  his  life. 

Went  to  town,  and  apjilied  to  Sir  Thomas  Reade  that  permis- 
sloii  might  be  granted  to  the  French  to  purchase  two  cows,  that 
a  little  good  milk  might  be  provided  for  the  establishment. 

The  fog  so  thick,  and  the  weather  so  bud,  that  the  signal  of 
«//"a'  ivill  could  not  be  seen.  Orderlies  sent  to  acquaint  the  go- 
vernor and  admiral. 

Wf/i. — Weather  still  very  bad. 

l'2ih. — Saw  Napoleon  in  his  dressing-room.  Gave  him  a 
newspaper  of  the  3rd  of  October,  ISIO.  Had  some  conversation 
with  him  relative  to  Chateaubriand,  Sir  Robert  Wilson,  &c.  I 
observed,  that  some  pjersons  wtire  surprised  that  he  had  never 
written,  or  caused  to  be  written,  an  answer  to  Sir  Robert  Wil- 
son's work,  and  to  others  containing  similar  assertions.  He  re- 
plied, that  it  was  unnecessary  ;  that  they  would  fall  to  the 
ground  of  themselves;  that  Sir  Robert  had  already  contradicted 
it,  by  the  answer  which  he  had  given  in  his  interrogation,  when 
Iried  in  Paris  for  having  assisted  Lavalette  in  his  escape;  and 
that  he  was  convinced  W^ilson  was  now  sorry  for  having  pub- 
lished what  he  then  had  been  led  to  believe  was  true.  That 
moreover  the  English,  who  returned  from  their  travels  in  France, 
would  return  undeceived  as  to  his  character,  and  would  unde- 
ceive their  c<juntrymen. 

I  asked  if  he  had  not  been  very  thin  when  he  was  in  Egypt 
lie  answered,  that  he  was  at  that  time  extremely  thin,  although 
possessed  of  a  strong  and  robust  constitution.  That  he  had  sup- 
ported what  would  have  killed  most  other  men.  After  his 
thirty-sixth  year  he  began  to  grow  fat. 

He  told  me  that  he  had  frecjucntly  labored  in  state  affairs  for 
Sileen  bjurs,  without  a  moment's  cessation,  or  even  having  taken 


1817 — JANUARY.  193 

any  nourishment.  On  one  occasion,  he  had  continued  at  his 
labors  for  three  days  and  nights,  without  laying  down  to  sleep. 

When  Napoleon  was  rising  up  from  table  this  day,  and  in  the 
act  of  taking  his  hat  off  the  side-board,  a  large  rat  sprang  out  of 
it.  and  ran  between  his  legs,  to  the  surprise  of  those  presiait. 

13//i. — Made  inquiries  from  the  purveyor,  if  credit  were  given 
to  the  establishment  on  any  articles  allowed  them  by  govern- 
ment during  the  week,  which  had  not  been  consumed,  and 
whether  they  might  be  permitted  to  appropriate  the  value  of 
such  articles  as  had  not  been  used,  to  increase  the  allowance  of 
others,  of  which  they  had  not  a  sufficient  quantity  ;  or  whether 
the  savings  so  made,  were  to  be  credited  to  government?  The 
reply  was,  "any  saving  made  by  the  establishment  upon  the 
English  confectionary  allowed  to  them,  may  be  carried  to  in- 
crease the  quantity  of  vegetables  allowed ;  but  all  and  every 
other  saving  is  to  be  credited  to  government,  and  not  to  the 
French."  That  some  weeks  back,  no  saving  of  any  description 
was  permitted  to  be  appropriated  to  increase  the  allowances  in 
which  there  might  be  a  deficiency  ;  but  after  several  representa- 
tions had  been  made  by  me  during  Napoleon's  illness,  of  the  de- 
ficiency of  vegetables.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  directed,  that  the 
value  of  the  confectionary  not  used  by  them,*  might  be  carried 
over  to  increase  the  allowance  of  provisions ;  that  a  very  severe 
reprimand  had  been  given  to  the  purveyors,  in  a  letter  from 
Major  Gorrequer,  for  having  credited  the  value  of  the  fruit 
allowed,  (when  none  was  to  be  procured  on  the  island,)  to  in- 
crease the  quantity  of  vegetables,  accompanied  by  a  strict  order 
never  to  repeat  it. 

\Ath. — Made  inquiries  from  Brigade  Major  Harrison,  who  was 
stationed  at  Hut's  Gate,  if  any  alteration  had  been  made  in  th€ 
orders,  so  as  to  allow  Napoleon  to  pass  the  picquet  at  that  gate, 
and  to  go  round  by  Miss  Mason's  and  Woody  Range,  nvKccom- 
panied  by  a  British  officer  1  Major  Harrison  replied,  that  no 
change  of  orders  to  that  effect  had  been  given,  and  that  if  he 
attempted   to  pass,  he  would   be  stopped  by  the  sentinels.     He 

*  The  French  raroly  used  any  of  the  confectionary  sent  from  Engluncl,  «»  th« 
ehe/d'officef  was  very  superior  in  his  office. 

9 


194  A    VDICK    I'KoM    sr.    HELENA. 

addod,  that  Giiioral  (loiirgaiul  had  asked  him  the  same  qutstion 
yesterday-,  to  whom  he  had  returned  a  similar  answer.  Cipriani 
in  town,  purchasing  sheep. 

15///. — Saw  Napoleon  in  his  hath.  He  was  rather  low-spirited 
and  thoughtful.  Made  some  observations  about  the  governor's 
not  having  kept  his  word,  relative  to  the  proptjscd  intermediation 
through  the  medium  of  the  admiral. 

\l(h. — Madame  Bertrand  delivered  of  a  fine  boy,  at  half-past 
four  o'cl«)ek.  Her  accouehcment  was  followed  by  some  danger- 
ous symptoms. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  toX,ongwood,  and  asked  me  "If  I 
had  had  any  conversation  with  Napoleon  touching  the  admiral 
since  he  had  seen  me  ?"  I  replied,  that  he  "  appeared  much  sur- 
prised, that  he  (the  governor)  had  not  acted  upon  the  proposed 
intermediation  by  means  of  the  admiral."  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
observed,  "  that  he  had  considered  the  negotiation  to  be  broken 
off,  by  General  Bonaparte's  having  sent  to  him  a  number  of 
strictures  upon  the  restrictions  of  October  last,  written  in  a 
violent  manner,  and  containing  falsehoods ;  and  by  the  tenor  of 
the  remarks  written  upon  the  back  of  the  answer  delivered  b} 
him  to  the  original  proposition.  That  he  was  ignorant  whether 
they  intended  those  remarks  for  his  perusal,  or  to  be  sent  *.o 
England.  That  the  frequent  use  of  the  word  '  einperor,^  in  th*^ 
strictures  written  by  Count  Bertrand,  was  sufficient  for  him  to 
break  off  the  affair."  I  replied  that  the  strictures  had  mersly 
been  sent  by  Napoleon  for  his  own  consideration.  His  excel- 
lency then  began  to  inveigh  against  Count  Las  Cases,  w^hom  he 
accused  of  "having  been  the  cause  of  much  mischief  between 
Bonaparte  and  himself;  said  he  had  asserted  in  his  journal  that 
Bonaparte  had  declared,  that  he  al)horred  the  sight  of  the  British 
uniform,  or  of  a  British  officer;  that  he  held  both  in  abomination; 
and  that  I  had  better  take  an  opportunity  to  tell  him  this,  and 
add,  that  I  had  heard  him  (the  governor)  say,  that  he  did  not 
believe  that  he  had  ever  said  so." 

Sir  Hudson  then  asked  me  if  "  I  had  informed  General  Bona^ 
parte  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  ride  round  by  Miss  Mason's  and 
Woody  Range  unaccompanied  1"     1  replied  that  I  had,  but  that 


1817 — JANUARY.  195 

Major  Harrison  had  asserted  the  contrary  to  General  Gourgaiid 
and  myself.  His  excellency  said,  that  since  that  time,  permis- 
sion had  been  granted,  of  which  he  desii'ed  me  to  inform  General 
Bonaparte,  as  well  as  of  his  reasons  for  not  having  gone  on  any 
further  with  the  proposed  intermediation.  Also,  "that  he  daily 
expected  good  news  from  England  for  the  French,  and  hoped  he 
should  be  permitted  by  the  English  government  to  render  their 
situation  more  comfortable." 

In  the  evening,  however,  his  excellency  changed  his  mind,  and 
ordered  me  "  i\ot  to  communicate  anything  to  General  Bonaparte 
on  the  subject  of  the  ride  to  the  left  of  Hut's  Gate,  but  to  men- 
tion everything  else  he  had  directed  me." 

18th. — Napoleon  sent  for  me.  Complained  of  severe  head- 
ache, and  made  many  inquiries  concerning  Madame  Bertrand, 
about  whose  state  of  health  he  appeared  very  anxious.  I  in- 
formed him  of  the  real  cause  of  the  unpleasant  symptoms  which 
had  appeared. 

Acquainted  him  with  the  causes  which  the  governor  had  as- 
signed yesterday,  as  his  reasons  for  not  having  proceeded  farther 
in  the  proposed  intermediation,  and  the  other  matters  that  I  was 
directed  to  tell  him.  Napoleon  replied,  "  I  never  intended  to 
break  off  the  negotiation.  The  observations  were  sent  to  him, 
because  he  asked  for  them  himself,  and  desired  to  know  what  we 
complained  of  It  was  never  intended  as  a  refusal,  nor  to  Vie 
sent  to  England,  as  it  was  only  a  copy  of  what  I  once  intended 
to  send.  I  wished,"  continued  he,  "  to  have  had  the  admiral  pre- 
sent at  any  agreement  which  might  be  made,  in  order  to  be  able 
to  call  upon  him  hereafter,  as  a  man  of  honor  and  an  English- 
man, to  bear  witness  to  whatever  was  agreed  upon,  that  thr 
governor  might  not  be  able  to  change  the  orders  and  directions, 
subsequently  deny  what  had  been  settled,  and  then  say  that  ho 
had  changed  nothing.  But  this  governor  never  intended  to  call 
in  the  admiral.  It  was  all  a  trick.  SJ  un  uomo  senza.  /ec/e,"  (a 
faithless  man).  I  said  that  the  governor  had  informed  me  that 
he  had  written  to  England,  and  daily  expected  orders  to  amelio- 
rate his  condition.  "He  has  never  written  for  any  such  thing," 
replied  Napoleon  :  "  he  sees  that  he  has  gone  too  far,  and  now  be 


196  A    VOICE    I'KOM    ST.    Ill): LENA. 

awaits  the  arrival  of  sonu"  ship  f\\>\\\  England,  in  (irciir  that  he 
nmy  throw  thi'  weight  and  odium  of  thoso  restrictions  upon  the 
ministers,  and  say  that  he  has  written  and  got  thcni  taken  ofl'. 
The  ministers  have  merely  given  him  orders  to  take  every  pre- 
caution to  prevent  me  from  escaping  ;  all  the  rest  is  discretional. 
He  treats  us  as  if  we  were  so  many  peasants,  or  poor  simple 
creatures,  who  could  be  duped  by  his  shallow  artifices." 

The  Adamant  arrived  from  the  Cape.  A  present  of  some 
fruit  sent  by  Lady  Malcolm  to  Napoleon.  Went  to  town,  and 
[•roeured  some  newspapers,  which  I  gave  to  Napoleon  on  my  re- 
turn. Assisted  in  explaining  some  of  the  passages  to  him.  Re- 
peated an  anecdote  which  I  had  heard  about  his  son,  at  which  he 
laughed  much,  appeared  entertained,  and  brightened  up.  Made 
me  repeat  it  again  ;  asked  about  Marie  Louise,  and  desired  me 
to  endeavor  to  see  all  the  newspapers  that  arrived,  in  order,  that 
if  I  could  not  procure  the  loan  of  them,  I  should  be  able  to  in- 
form him  of  anything  they  might  contain,  relative  to  his  wife 
and  child.  "  For,"  added  he,  "  one  reason  that  this  governor 
does  not  send  up  a  regular  series  of  papers,  is  to  prevent  me 
from  seeing  any  article  which  he  thinks  would  give  me  pleasure, 
especially  such  as  contain  some  little  information  about  my  son 
or  my  wife." 

19tk. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  me.  Proceeded  to  Planta- 
tion House.  Communicated  to  him  Napoleon's  reply  to  the 
message  he  had  charged  me  to  deliver  on  the  17th,  concealing 
any  offensive  epithets,  and  otherwise  moderating  the  manner. 
Sir  Hudson  said,  "  that  he  had  never  asked  for  the  observations 
on  the  restrictions  :  that  he  believed  he  had  asked  what  they 
complained  of,  and  that  he  was  glad  to  know  they  had  not  in- 
tended to  break  off  the  accommodation  by  sending  them." 

A  little  afterwards,  however,  his  excellency  began  to  wax 
•varm,  and  said,  "That  the  person  who  had  ordered  observations 
to  be  written,  couched  in  such  language,  and  containing  lies, 
could  not  be  actuated  by  any  conciliatory  views,  and  he  should 
take  no  positive  steps  in  the  matter.  That  he  conceived  a  per- 
son's proposing  another  for  a  mediator  could  have  no  other  ob- 
ject in  view  than   to  ?nake  some  concession  or  apology ;  if  such 


1&17 — JANUARY.  197 

were  General  Bonaparte's  views,  he  (Sir  Hudson)  should  think  it 
advisable  to  employ  one,  and  not  otherwise."  He  then  asked 
me,  "  if  such  were  General  Bonaparte's  intentions  ?"  I  told  his 
excellency  that  I  could  assure  him  Napoleon  had  no  such  inten- 
tion, nor  ever  had.  Sir  Hudson,  after  some  hazardous  assertions 
relative  to  Napoleon's  motives,  got  up,  walked  into  another  room, 
from  whence  he  returned  with  a  volume  of  the  Quarterly  Re- 
view, containing  a  review  of  Miot's  work  upon  Egypt,  which  he 
put  into  my  hands,  and,  with  a  triumphant  laugh,  pointed  out 
the  following  passage,  which  he  desired  me  to  read  aloud  : 

"  He  (Bonaparte)  understands  enough  of  mankind  to  dazzle  the 
weak,  to  dupe  the  vain,  to  overawe  the  timid,  and  to  make  the 
wicked  his  instruments.  But  of  all  beyond  this,  Bonaparte  is 
grossly  and  brutally  ignorant.  Of  the  strength  of  patriotism, 
the  enthusiasm  of  virtue,  the  fortitude  of  duty,  he  knows  nothing, 
and  can  comprehend  nothing."  During  the  time  I  was  reading 
this,  his  excellency  indulged  in  bursts  of  laughter.  He  after- 
wards made  me  observe  a  definition  of  the  word  caractere  in  a 
posthumous  work  of  Voltaire's,  (I  think,)  of  which  he  said  Ge- 
neral Bonaparte  must  have  been  ignorant,  or  he  would  not  be  so 
fond  of  using  the  woi'd. 

Subsequently,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  said,  that,  "  General  Bona- 
parte ought  to  send  the  admiral  to  him."  I  observed  that  Sir 
Pulteney  Malcolm  would  not  undertake  any  thing  of  the  kind 
unless  first  spoken  to,  and  authorized  by  him  (Sir  Hudson)  to 
undertake  it.  That  as  he  had  now  the  complaints  of  the  French 
in  his  possession,  he  might  let  the  admiral  know  how  far  he 
would  agree  to  their  demands;  and,  by  making  that  officer 
acquainted  with  his  intentions,  the  latter  would  know  how  to  act 
aud  what  answer  to  make.  Sir  Hudson  recurred  again  to  the 
language  in  which  the  observations  on  his  restrictions  were  couch- 
ed, and  after  a  discussion  which  continued  for  some  time,  gave 
me  a  message,  similar  to  that  which  he  had  done  on  the  17th, 
with  the  addition,  "  that  at  the  time  he  had  foreseen  that  the  re- 
quest to  see  Las  Cases,  which  he  could  not  grant,  would  probably 
break  off  the  proposed  accommodation."  He  then  told  me  that 
I  might  borrow  any  books  I  liked  in  his  library,  excepting  such 


lyti  A    VOICK   FKOM    «T.    UKLKNA- 

8s  fljillcii'J  Buiiiijiarto  too  iiiuili.  Shortly  afu-r,  he  gave  me 
Fillet's  liliel  upon  England,  Miut's  expedition  to  Egypt,  "^Imourj 
secretes  (/«*  J'k^apiileoii"  ^:e.  1  asked  him  if  I  might  lend  Pillet  to 
Napolet)!!.  lie  said,  "  Yes  ;  and  tell  him  that  Pillet  knows  just 
as  inueh  about  Englaiid  as  Las  Cases."  His  excellency  ihen 
look  from  a  shelf  a  book  called  "Zes  Iinposteurs  in^ignes^  ou 
Jlistoire  de  plusieurs  Hommes  de  neunt  dc  toutes  Nations,  qui  ont 
usurpc  la  Qnulitc  d^JiJmpereur,  de  Roi,  el  de  Priiice,^^*  put  it  into 
my  hand,  and  with  a  peculiar  grin,  said,  "you  had  better  take 
General  Bonaparte  this  also.  Perhaps  he  may  find  some  char- 
acters in  it  resembling  himself" 

20th. — Cipriani  in  town,  purchasing  meat,  butter,  and  other 
necessaries.  Sir  Thomas  Reade  very  active  in  assisting  him  to 
procure  them. 

21st. — Saw  Napoleon  in  the  evening.  Gave  him  Pillet's  libel, 
mentioning  at  the  same  time  some  of  the  falsehoods  contained  in 
it;  amongst  others,  the  incestuous  practices  which  the  wretch 
who  wrote  it  asserted  to  be  prevalent  in  England.  He  appeared 
surprised  and  shocked  at  this,  and  observed  that  malice  frequent- 
ly defeated  itself  When  I  mentioned  that  Pillet  had  asserted 
that  the  French  naval  officers  were  more  skilful  and  manceuvered 
better  than  the  English,  he  smiled  contemptuously,  and  observed, 
'•  Truly,  they  have  proved  it  by  the  result  of  their  actions." 

I  then  told  him  that  I  had  got  a  book  entitled  '■'■Amours  secretes 
de  Napoleon  Bonapjarte,^'  but  Lhat  it  was  a  foolish  work.  He 
laughed,  and  desired  me  to  bring  it  to  him.  "  It  will  at  least 
make  me  laugh,"  said  he.  I  accordingly  brought  it.  He  ob- 
served a  print  in  the  book  which  represented  him  plunging  a 
sword  into  a  balloon,  because  the  manager  of  it  would  not  let  him 
ascend  and  remarked,  "  It  is  believed  by  some  that  1  did  what  is 
represented  here,  and  I  have  heard  that  it  was  asserted  by  persons 
who  knew  me  well,  but  it  is  not  true.  The  circumstance  re- 
presented really  occurred,  but  the  actor  was  one  of  the  comite, 
a  young  man  of  great  bravery,  of  a  singular  appearance  and 

♦  Famoub  ImpoHtorti,  or  Histories  of  many  pitiful  VV  retches  of  low  birth  of  aU 
NatioDS,  who  have  usurped  the  office  of  Emperor,  King,  or  Priuoe. 


1817 — JANUARY.  199 

peculiar  manner,  always  elevated  upon  his  tiptoes,  and  loving  to 
walk  near  the  brink  of  precipices." 

Some  one  came  into  the  room  now,  to  whom  he  cried  "  eh 
bien,  voila  mes  amours  secretes,'''  (here  are  my  private  amours.) 
He  then  ran  through  the  book,  read  out  some  parts,  laughing 
very  heartily,  but  observed  that  it  was  monstrous  silly  ;  that 
they  had  not  even  described  him  to  be  a  wicked  man.  After 
having  perused  a  portion  of  it  which  I  had  not  read,  he  shut  the 
book,  and  returned  it,  observing  that  there  was  not  a  single 
word  of  truth  in  the  anecdotes  ;  that  even  the  names  of  the  greatest 
number  of  the  females  mentioned  were  unknown  to  him. 

Napoleon  sat  up  until  late  at  night  reading  Pillet,  and  I  was 
informed  he  was  heard  repeatedly  to  burst  into  loud  fits  of 
laughter. 

22»tZ.— Napoleon  employed  a  considerable  portion  of  the  day 
in  dictating  his  memoirs  to  Counts  Bertrand  and  Montholon  in 
the  billiard-room,  which  he  has  converted  into  a  cabinet  de  travail, 
(a  working  room.)  Occasionally  he  amuses  himself  with  col- 
lecting the  balls  together  and  endeavoring  to  roll  them  all  into 
the  opposite  corner  pocket. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  me  up  some  coffee  for  Napoleon's  own 
use,  which  he  said  was  of  very  good  quality,  and  which  he 
strongly  recommended. 

23r(/. — Napoleon  in  good  spirits.  Spoke  about  Fillet's  book. 
Observed  that  he  had  no  recollection  whatever  of  such  a  name. 
"  Probably,"  said  he,  "  Pillet  is  some  person  who  has  been 
harshly  treated  by  you  in  the  prison-ships  [^j)ontons)  and  has 
written  in  a  bad  humor  and  full  of  malice  against  the  English, 
which  is  evidently  displayed  in  his  work.  There  is,"  continued 
he,  "  only  one  statement  in  the  book  which  I  believe  to  be  cor- 
rect, viz.  that  relative  to  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners  in  the 
'pontons.  It  was  barbarous  on  the  part  of  your  government  to 
immure  a  number  of  poor  wretches  of  soldiers,  who  had  not  been 
accustomed  to  the  sea,  on  board  of  ships  so  many  hours  every 
night,  without  fresh  air.  There  was  something  horrid,"  conti- 
nued he  "in  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners  in  England.  The 
very  idea  of  being  put  on  board  of  a  ship,  and  kept  there  for 


200  A.   VOICE    FROM    ST.    IIEI.ENA. 

.H>veral  years,  has  soiiu-tliiiig  diiaiiriil  in  it.  Even  your  seamen 
hate  the  idea  of'  Iteiii}^  always  on  board  of  ships,  and  run  to  seek 
the  ilelights  ot' the  sliore  whenever  they  can.  There  was  nothing 
which  so  much  irritated  the  nations  of  the  continent  against  yoa. 
For  your  ministers  not  only  heaped  Frenchmen  in  them,  but 
also  prisoners  of  all  other  nations  at  war  with  you.  I  received 
so  many  complaints  about  the  barbarous  treatment  to  which 
thev  were  subjected  in  the  poit(u)i.s,  a  treatment  so  contrary  to 
that  practiced  in  France  towards  the  English,  that  at  last  I  gave 
orders  that  all  the  English  prisoners  should  be  put  on  board  of 
pontons,  which  were  to  be  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  to  be 
treated  precisely  as  you  treated  mine  in  England.  Had  I  re- 
mained in  France,  it  would  have  been  carried  into  execution,  and 
would  have  had  a  good  efiect,  for  I  would  have  given  every 
liberty  and  facility  to  the  English  so  confined  to  vent  their  com- 
plaints, and  your  ministry  would,  in  spite  of  themselves,  have 
been  obliged  to  remove  the  French  from  the  pontons,  in  order 
that  a  similar  measure  might  be  adopted  towards  the  English  in 
France." 

1  observed  that  the  treatment  of  the  French  prisoners  in  Eng- 
land had  not  been  near  so  bad  as  was  stated  by  many,  especially 
by  Pillet.  Napoleon  replied,  "  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  statement 
is  exaggerated  ;  but  still  they  were  treated  in  a  most  barbarous 
and  oppressive  manner.  The  mere  putting  of  soldiers  on  board 
of  ships  is  of  itself  cruel.  Now,  in  France  all  the  English  were 
treated  well :  at  least  my  intentions  towards  them  were  good. 
Some  abuses  existed  doubtless,  as  there  always  will  under  similar 
eii-cumstances ;  but  that  was  not  my  fault.  Whenever  they 
came  to  my  knowledge,  I  always  punished  the  guilty.  There 
was  Virion  ;  as  soon  as  I  found  out  his  robberies,  I  gave  orders 
to  have  him  tried,  and  I  would  have  had  him  hanged,  if,  dreading 
the  result,  he  had  not  ^hot  himself.  Others  did  the  same,  it  is 
impossible  that  any  government  could  have  given  more  lenient 
directions  for  the  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war  than  those  w  hich 
were  issued  by  me  ;  but  I  could  not  help  some  abuses  being  prac- 
ticed. 1  always  punished  the  authors  of  them  when  they  came 
to  aay  knowledge.     Let  the  thousands  of  English  prisoners  who 


1817 — JANUARY.  201 

were  in  France  be  asked  to  state  candidly  the  manner  in  which 
they  were  treated.  There  are  some  of  them  now  in  this  island. 
When  they  attempted  to  escape  and  were  taken,  then  indeed 
they  were  closely  confined;  but  never  were  treated  in  such  a 
barbarous  manner  as  you  treated  mine  in  your  ponfons.  Youi 
ministers  made  a  great  noise  about  my  having  employed  French 
prisoners  who  had  broken  their  parole  and  escaped.  But  the 
prisoners  of  your  nation  were  the  first  to  set  the  example  to 
escape,  and  your  ministers  employed  them  afterwards.  In  re- 
taliation, I  of  course  did  the  same.  I  published  the  names  of 
several  Englishmen  who  broke  their  parole  previous  to  the 
French  having  done  so,  and  who  were  afterwards  employed  by 
you ;  nay,  1  did  more,  I  made  an  offer  to  your  ministers  to  send 
back  all  the  French  prisoners  who  had  violated  their  parole  from 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  provided  they  would  in  like  manner 
send  back  all  the  English  who  had  done  the  like.  They  how- 
ever refused  to  consent  to  this.  What  more  could  I  do  1  Your 
ministers  made  a  great  outcry  about  the  English  travelers  that 
I  detained  in  France ;  although  they  themselves  had  set  the  ex- 
ample, by  seizing  upon  all  the  French  vessels  and  persons  on 
board  of  them,  upon  whom  they  could  lay  their  hands,  either  in 
their  harbors,  or  at  sea,  before  the  declaration  of  war,  and  before 
I  had  detained  the  English  in  France.  I  said  then,  if  you  detain 
my  travelers  at  sea,  where  you  can  do  what  you  like,  I  will  de- 
tain yours  at  land  where  I  am  equally  powerful.  But  after  this 
I  offered  to  release  all  the  English  I  had  seized  in  France  before 
the  declaration  of  war,  provided  you  would  in  like  manner  re- 
lease the  French  and  their  property  which  you  had  seized  on 
board  of  the  ships.     Your  ministers  refused. 

"  Your  ministers,"  continued  he,  "  never  publish  all  the  truth, 
unless  when  they  cannot  avoid  it;  or  when  they  know  that  it 
will  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  public  through  other  channels  ; 
in  other  cases,  they  turn,  disguise,  or  suppress  every  thing,  as 
best  answers  their  views." 

I  made  some  observations  relative  to  the  calumnious  assertions 
of  Pillet,  of  the  general  depravity  alleged  by  him  to  exist  among 
the  English  ladies,  and  the  horrible  assertions  he  had  put  forth} 

9* 


202  A   VOICK    FKOM    ST.    IIKLKN  i. 

:uul  iimiiitaiiutl  that  in  no  cuuiitn  was  tlu-ro  Itss  loason  for  sup 
p«.»snig  lliat  an  inipropor  connexion  existed  ln-twoen  near  rcUv- 
lions;  nor  in  any  connlrv  were  there  to  lie  fouml  females  more 
delieate,  or  more  irreproaehaMe  in  their  mode  of  life  ;  jiointing 
out  to  the  Eniperor  tliat  it  was  evident  Pillet  had  kept  very  low 
company,  by  his  assertions  alumi  sicecthearis,  which  1  exphiined 
was  a  word  in  haKitual  nse  only  amongst  chamltermaids,  low- 
shopkeepers'  daughters,  and  others  of  a  similar  rank,  although 
Pillet  had  the  impudence  to  assert  that  such  a  term  was  in  fami- 
liar use  with  young  ladies  of  the  first  respectability.  "True," 
said  Napoleon,  "  I  fancy  that  he  never  saw  any  English  women 
on  board  of  his  ship,  except  puttane  of  the  lowest  chiss.  He 
had,"  continued  he,  "a  fine  opportunity  truly  of  learning  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  English,  confined  as  he  was  on 
board  of  a  pontou  for  seven  or  eight  years.  lie  defeated  his  own 
intention  ;  for  in  some  parts  he  has  written  so  many  lies  and 
horrors  of  the  English,  that  the  truth  which  he  has  stated  in 
another  part  will  not  be  credited.  His  book  is  like  those  which 
have  described  me  as  a  monster  delighting  in  l)ioodshed,  in 
crimes  and  atrocities;  that  merely  to  gratify  a  sanguinary  dis- 
position I  drove  my  carriage  over  the  bodies  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  in  battle.  His  book  is  just  as  true,  and  in  like  manner 
defeats  the  intentions  of  the  publisher.  I  was  indeed  pleased  to 
see  those  violent  works,  as  1  knew  that  no  person  of  sense  or 
reason,  would  believe  them.  Those  written  with  an  appearance 
of  moderation  and  impartiality  were  the  only  ones  I  had  to  fear." 
I  asked  the  emperor  then  if  he  had  ever  read  Miot's  history  of 
the  expedition  to  Egypt.  "  What,  the  commissary  ?"  replied  he. 
"I  believe  Las  Cases  gave  me  a  copy  ;  moreover  it  was  pul)lished 
in  my  time."  He  then  desired  me  to  bring  the  one  which  I  had, 
in  order  that  he  might  compare  them.  He  observed,  "  Miot  was 
&  polisson  (blackguard)  whom,  together  with  his  brother,  I  raised 
from  the  dirt.  He  says  that  I  threatened  him  for  writing  the 
book  ;  which  is  a  falsehood.  1  said  to  his  brother  once  that  he 
might  as  well  not  have  published  untruths.  He  was  a  man  who 
had  always  fear  before  his  eyes.  What  does  he  say  al)Out  the 
poisoning  affair  and  the  shooting  at  Jaffa  1"     1  replied,  that  as  to 


1817 — JANUARY.  203 

the  poisoning,  Miot  declared,  he  could  say  no  more  than  that 
Buch  had  been  the  current  report ;  but  that  he  positively  asst-rted 
that  he  (Napoleon)  had  caused  between  three  and  four  thousand 
Turks  to  be  shot,  some  days  after  the  capture  of  Jaffii.  Napo- 
leon answ  ered,  "  It  is  not  true  that  there  were  so  many.  I  or- 
dered about  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  to  be  shot,  which  was 
done.  The  reason  was,  that  amongst  the  garrison  of  Jaffa,  a 
number  of  Turkish  troops  were  discovered,  whom  I  had  taken,  a 
short  time  before,  at  El-Arish,  and  sent  to  Bagdad  upon  their 
parole  not  to  serve  again,  or  to  be  found  in  arms  against  me  for 
a  year.  I  had  caused  them  to  be  escorted  twelve  leagues  on  their 
way  to  Bagdad,  by  a  division  of  my  army.  But  those  Turks, 
instead  of  proceeding  to  Bagdad,  threw  themselves  into  Jaffa,  de- 
fended it  to  the  last,  and  cost  me  a  number  of  brave  men  to  take 
it,  whose  lives  would  have  been  spared,  if  the  others  had  not 
reinforced  the  garrison  of  Jaffa.  Moreover,  before  I  attacked  the 
town,  I  sent  them  a  flag  of  truce.  Immediately  afterwards  we 
saw  the  head  of  the  bearer  elevated  on  a  pole  over  the  wall. 
Now  if  I  had  spared  them  again,  and  sent  them  away  upon  their 
parole,  they  would  directly  have  gone  to  St.  Jean  d'Acre,  where 
they  would  have  played  over  again  the  same  scene  that  they  had 
done  at  Jafla.  In  justice  to  the  lives  of  my  soldiers,  as  every 
general  ought  to  consider  himself  as  their  father,  and  them  as  his 
children,  I  could  not  allow  this.  To  leave  as  a  guard  a  portion 
of  my  army,  already  small  and  reduced  in  number,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  breach  of  faith  of  those  wretches,  was  impossible. 
Indeed,  to  have  acted  otherwise  than  as  I  did,  would  probably 
have  caused  the  destruction  of  my  whole  army.  I  therefore, 
availing  myself  of  the  rights  of  war,  which  authorize  the  putting 
to  death  prisoners  taken  under  such  circumstances,  independent 
of  the  right  given  to  me  by  having  taken  the  city  by  assault,  and 
that  of  retaliation  on  the  Turks,  ordered  that  the  prisoners  taken 
at  El-Arish,  who,  in  defiance  of  their  capitulation,  had  been  found 
bearing  arms  against  me,  should  be  selected  out  and  shot.  The 
rest,  amounting  to  a  considerable  number,  were  spared.  I  would," 
continued  he,  "do  the  same  thing  again  to-morrow,  and  so  would 


204  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    IIKI.ENA. 

Wi-llingtoii,  or  uiiv  gi-iioiiil  tM>iiiiiiaii<liiig   an   ariiiv  iiiulcr  siinilai 
circ'inistanoes." 

"Previous  to  leaving  Jaffa,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  and  ufter 
the  yreattst  nunilier  of  the  sick  and  wounded  had  been  einltarked 
it  was  reported  to  me  that  there  were  some  men  in  the  hospital 
so  dangerously  ill,  as  not  to  be  able  to  be  moved.  I  ordered 
immediately  the  ehiefs  t)f  the  medical  staff  to  consult  together 
iipi>n  what  was  best  to  be  done,  and  to  give  nie  their  opinion  on 
the  subject.  Accordingly,  they  met,  and  found  that  there  were 
seven  or  eight  men  so  dangerously  ill,  that  they  conceived  it  im- 
possible for  them  to  recover ;  and  also  that  they  could  not  exist 
twenty-four  or  thirty -six  hours  longer;  that,  moreover,  being 
afflicted  with  the  plague,  they  would  spread  that  complaint 
amongst  all  those  who  approached  them.  Some  of  them,  who 
were  sensible,  perceiving  that  they  were  about  to  be  abandoned, 
demanded  with  earnest  entreaties  to  be  put  to  death.  Larrey 
•was  of  opinion  that  recovery  w^as  impossible,  and  that  those 
poor  fellows  could  not  exist  many  hours;  but  as  they  inight  live 
long  enough  to  be  alive  when  the  Turks  entered,  and  experience 
the  dreadfid  torments  which  they  were  accustomed  to  inflict  upon 
their  prisoners,  he  thought  it  would  be  an  act  of  charity  to  comply 
with  their  desires,  and  accelerate  their  end  V)y  a  few  hours.  Des- 
genettes  did  not  approve  of  this,  and  replied,  that  his  profession 
was  to  cure  the  sick,  and  not  to  dispatch  them.  Larrey  came  to 
me  immediately  afterwards,  informed  me  of  the  circumstances^ 
ai>d  of  what  Desgenettes  had  said  ;  adding,  that  perhaps  Des- 
genettes  was  right.  'But,'  continued  Larrey,  'those  men  cannot 
live  for  more  than  a  few  hours,  twenty-four  or  thirty-six  at  most; 
and  if  you  will  leave  a  rear-guard  of  cavalry,  to  stay  and  prc)tect 
them  from  advanced  parties,  it  will  be  sufficient.'  Accordingly, 
I  ordered  four  or  five  hundred  cavalry  to  remain  behind,  and  not 
to  quit  the  place  until  all  were  dead.  They  did  remain,  and  in- 
formed me  that  all  had  expired  before  they  had  left  the  town  ; 
but  1  have  heard  since,  that  Sydney  Smith  found  one  or  two  alive, 
when  he  entered  it.  This  is  the  truth  of  the  business.  Wilson 
himself,  I  dare  say,  knfiws  now  that  he  was  mistaken.  Sydney 
Smith  never  asserted   it.     1  have  no  doulit  that  this  stoiy  of  the 


1 81 1 — JANUARY.  205 

poisoning  originated  in  something  said  by  Desgenettes,  who  was 
a  bavard,  (babbler,)  which  was  afterwards  misconceived  or  in- 
correctly repeated,  Desgenettes,"  continued  he,  "  was  a  good 
man,  and  notwithstanding  that  he  had  given  rise  to  this  story,  I 
was  not  offended,  and  had  him  near  my  person  in  different  cam- 
paigns afterwards.  Not  that  I  think  it  would  have  been  a  crime, 
had  opium  been  given  to  them ;  on  the  contrary,  I  think  it  would 
have  been  a  virtue.  To  leave  a  few  miserahles,  (wretches,)  who 
could  not  recover,  in  order  that  they  might  be  massacred  by  the 
Turks  with  the  most  dreadful  tortures,  as  was  their  custom, 
would,  I  think,  have  been  cruelty.  A  general  ought  to  act  with 
his  soldiers,  as  he  would  wish  should  be  done  to  himself.  Now, 
would  not  any  man,  under  similar  circumstances,  who  had  his 
senses,  have  preferred  dying  easily  a  few  hours  sooner,  rather 
than  expire  under  the  tortures  of  those  barbarians  ?  You  have 
been  amongst  the  Turks,  and  know  what  they  are;  I  ask  you 
now  to  place  yourself  in  the  situation  of  one  of  those  sick  men, 
and  that  you  were  asked  which  you  would  prefer,  to  be  left  to 
suffer  the  tortures  of  those  miscreants,  or  to  have  opium  adminis- 
tered to  you  V  I  replied,  "  most  undoubtedly  I  would  prefer  the 
latter."  "  Certainly,  so  would  any  man,"  answered  Napoleon  : 
"  if  my  own  son,  (and  I  believe  I  love  my  son  as  well  as  any  fa- 
ther does  his  child,)  were  in  a  similar  situation  with  those  men,  I 
would  advise  it  to  be  done;  and  if  so  situated  myself,  I  would 
insist  upon  it,  if  I  had  sense  enough,  and  strength  enough  to  de- 
mand it.  But,  however,  affairs  were  not  so  pressing  as  to  prevent 
me  from  leaving  a  party  to  take  care  of  them,  which  was  done. 
If  I  had  thought  such  a  measure  as  that  of  giving  opium  neces- 
sary, I  would  have  called  a  council  of  war,  have  stated  the  neces- 
sity of  it,  and  have  published  it  in  the  order  of  the  day.  It 
should  have  been  no  secret.  Do  you  think  that  if  I  had  been 
capable  of  secretly  poisoning  my  soldiers,  (as  doing  a  necessary 
action  secretly  would  give  it  the  appearance  of  a  crime,)  or  of 
such  barbarities  as  driving  my  carriage  over  the  dead,  and  the 
still  bleeding  bodies  of  the  wounded,  that  my  troops  would  have 
fought  for  me  with  an  enthusiasm  and  affection  without  a  parallel  1 
No,  no,  I  never  should  have  done  so  a  second  time.     Some  would 


206  A    VOU'K    FROM    ST.    HKLENA. 

have  shot  mo  in  passiiii^.  I^vi-ii  soiiu'  of  the  WDiiiulid,  who  had 
ButVicifiit  strfii;:th  Ift't  to  pull  a  tiiyger,  woukl  luivc  tlisjialrhod  iiu'." 

"  1  never,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  coinniilted  a  iiinif  in  all  my 
p«.>litienl  career.  At  my  last  hour  1  can  assert  that.  Had  I  done 
so,  ]  should  not  have  Iteen  here  now.  1  should  have  Jispatched 
the  Bourlions.  it  only  rested  witli  me  to  give  my  consent,  juid 
they  would  have  ceased  to  live," 

"  I  have  been  accused  in  like  manin-r,''  continued  the  empeioi, 
"of  having  committed  such  unnecessary  crimes  as  causing  Piche- 
gru,  Wright,  and  others,  to  be  assassinated.  Instead  of  desiring 
the  death  of  Wright,  I  was  anxious  to  bring  to  light,  by  his  testi- 
nionv,  that  Pitt  had  caused  assassins  to  be  landed  in  France, 
purposely  and  knowingly  to  murder  me.  Wright  killed  himself, 
probably  in  order  not  to  compromise  his  government.  What 
motive  could  I  have  in  assassinating  Pichegru  ?  A  man  who 
was  evidently  guilty :  against  whom  every  proof  was  ready. 
No  evidence  was  wanting  against  him.  His  condemnation  was 
certain.  Perhaps  I  should  have  pardoned  him.  If  indeed  Mo- 
reau  had  been  put  to  death,  then  people  might  have  said  that  I 
had  caused  his  assassination,  and  with  great  apparent  justice,  for 
he  was  the  only  man  I  had  much  reason  to  fear  ;  and  until  then, 
he  was  judged  innocent.  He  was  '  i/we,'  like  me;  Pichegru  was 
'Wn'/e,'  known  to  be  in  the  pay  of  England,  and  his  death  cer- 
tain." Here  Napoleon  described  the  way  in  which  he  had  been 
found,  and  observed,  that  the  very  uncommon  mode  of  his  death 
was  a  proof  that  he  had  not  been  murdered.  "There  never  has 
been,"  continued  he,  "  a  man  who  has  arrived  at  the  pitch  of 
power  to  which  I  have  done,  without  having  been  sullied  li) 
crimes,  except  myself.  An  English  lord,  a  relation  of  the  Duke 
of  Bedford,  who  dined  with  me  at  Elba,  told  me  that  it  was 
o-enerally  believed  in  England  that  the  Duke  d'Enghein  had  not 
been  tried,  Vjut  assassinated  in  prison  in  the  night ;  and  was  sur- 
prised when  I  told  him  that  he  had  a  regular  trial,  and  that  the 
sentence  had  been  jiublished  before  execution." 

I  now  asked  if  it  were  true  that  Talleyrand  had  retained  a 
letter  written  by  the  Due  d'Enghien  to  him  until  two  days  after 
the  duke's  execution  ?     Napoleon's  reply  was,  "  It  is  true  :  the 


1817 — JAN-FARf.  207 

^uke  had  written  a  letter,  offering  his  services,  and  asking  a  com- 
mand in  the  army  from  me,  which  that  scelerato*  Talleyrand,  did 
not  make  known  until  two  days  after  his  execution."  I  observed 
that  Talleyrand,  by  his  culpable  concealment  of  the  letter,  was 
virtually  guilty  of  the  death  of  the  duke.  "  Talleyrand,"  replied 
Napoleon,  "is  a  briccone,  (villain)  capable  of  any  crime.  I," 
continued  he,  "caused  the  Due  d'Enghien  to  be  arrested  in  con- 
sequence of  the  Bourbons  having  landed  assassins  in  France  to 
murder  me,  I  was  resolved  to  let  them  see  that  .the  blood  of 
one  of  their  princes  should  pay  for  their  attempts,  and  he  was 
accordingly  tried  for  having  borne  arms  against  the  republic, 
found  guilty  and  shot,  according  to  the  existing  laws  against  such 
a  crime." 

"  You  will  never,"  added  Napoleon,  "  see  the  truth  represented 
by  your  ministers,  where  France  is  concerned.  Your  great  Lord 
Chatham  said,  speaking  of  your  nation,  '  If  we  deal  fairly  or 
justly  with  France,  England  will  not  exist  for  four-and-twenty 
years.'  " 

After  this,  I  informed  the  emperor  of  the  message  which  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  had  directed  me  to  deliver.  He  replied,  "I  cer- 
tainly was  very  much  vexed  at  the  refusal  to  allow  Las  Cases  to 
come  up,  as  it  was  an  unnecessary  cruelty,  a  vexatious  foolery, 
particularly  when  he  allowed  the  French  generals  to  go  down 
and  converse  with  him  as  long  as  they  liked  ;  and  I  may  say 
without  a  witness  having  been  present ;  but  I  never  intended  to 
decline  the  accommodation  ;  on  the  contrary.  As  to  the  obser- 
vations upon  his  restrictions,  in  the  last  letter  he  wrote  to  Ber- 
trand,  he  mentioned  that  he  should  wish  to  learn  any  observations 
we  might  have  to  offer  on  the  subject  of  the  restrictions  ;  and,  in 
consequence,  those  remarks  were  sent  to  let  him  know  what  we 
thought  of  his  conduct,  he  having  pretended  that  nothing  had 
been  changed.  But  he  never  intended  to  avail  himself  of  the 
intermediation  of  the  admiral.  What  can  be  expected  from  a 
man  who  gives  false  orders?  A  man  who  tells  you  that  he  has 
giviMi  directions  to  sentinels  and  guards  which  they  deny  ever 
having  received  ;  who  says  that  we  have  liberty  to  pass  in  certain 

*  Miscreant. 


208  A   VOICK   FROM    ST.    HELENA. 

direotioiis  ;  and  iit  the  saiiu-  lime  orJers  (lie  sfiiliiicls  to  stop  all 
suspicious  persons.  Now,  in  thf  name  of  Gnd,  v\  lio  ean  he  more 
suspieious  to  nil  English  sentinel  than  a  Fienehman,  and  above  all^ 
iityselj?  To  guard  whom  is  his  only  business  here;  and  if  he 
does  his  duty,  he  will  assuredly  stop  every  Frenchman  he  sees." 
I  could  not  help  laughing  heartily  at  the  emperor's  manner,  in 
which  he  joim-d  himself,  and  repeated,  "  Un  uomo  iiuapace  che 
tion  ha  /u'.vsi/»a /('(/(',"  (a  man  without  capacity  and  witlmut  faith). 
After  which,  he  desired  me  to  endeavor  to  procure  him  a  cata- 
logue of  the  books  that  were  in  the  pulilic  library  of  James 
Town,  and  to  get  him  as  many  accounts  relative  to  Egypt  and 
the  expeditions  there,  as  I  could  procure. 

Saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  in  town,  to  whom  I  repeated  Napo- 
leon's reply.  When  I  came  to  that  part  of  it,  which  urged,  that 
in  his  last  letter  to  Bertrand,  he  had  stated,  that  he  would  be 
glad  to  learn  any  observations,  he  interrupted  me  with  "Ay,  that 
1  would  be  glad  to  enter  into  any  further  explanation.  Yes,  I 
recollect  that,"  but  he  did  not  seem  to  like  to  dwell  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  observed  that  it  appeared  General  Bonaparte's  answer 
was  the  same  as  before  ;  and  desired  me  to  be  sure  to  tell  him 
that  Las  Cases  knew  just  as  much  of  England  as  Pillet. 

24th. — Cipriani  in  town,  employed  as  usual,  endeavoring  to 
procure  some  good  articles  of  viands. 

26/^. — Napoleon  went  out  of  the  house,  being  the  first  time 
since  the  20th  of  November  last,  to  pay  a  visit  to  Countess  Ber- 
trand, whom  he  complimented  much  upon  her  beautiful  child. 
"  Sire,"  said  the  Countess,  "  I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  your 
majesty  le  premier  Franpais  (the  first  Frenchman)  who,  since  your 
arrival,  has  entered  Longwood  without  Lord  Bathurst's  per- 
mission." 

21th. — Napoleon  in  his  bath.  Complained  of  headache  and 
want  of  sleep,  which  I  imputed  to  his  want  of  exercise ;  and 
concluded  by  strongly  recommending  him  to  practice  it.  He 
acknowledged  the  justice  of  my  advice,  but  did  not  seem  to  think 
that  he  could  folb^w  it. 

Informed  him  that  I  had  got  a  book  containing  an  account  of  a 
society  named  "  Philadeljihi,"  which  had  been   formed   against 


1816  —JAN  U  ARY.  209 

him,  and  expressed  my  surprise  that  he  had  never  fallen  by  the 
hands  of  some  conspirators.  He  replied  :  "No  person  knew  five 
minutes  before  I  put  it  into  execution,  that  I  intended  to  go  oul^ 
or  where  I  should  go.  For  this  reason  the  conspirators  were 
baffled,  as  they  did  not  know  where  to  lay  the  scene  of  their 
enterprise.  Shortly  after  I  was  made  consul,  there  was  a  con 
spiracy  formed  against  me  by  about  fifty  persons,  the  greatest 
number  of  whom  had  once  been  very  much  attached  to  me,  and 
consisted  of  officers  of  the  army,  men  of  science,  painters,  and 
sculptors.  They  were  all  stern  republicans — their  minds  were 
heated  ;  each  fancied  himself  a  Brutus,  and  me  a  tyrant  and 
another  Caesar.  Amongst  them  was  Arena,  a  countryman  of 
mine,  a  republican,  and  a  man  who  had  been  much  attached  to 
me  before ;  but  thinking  me  a  tyrant,  he  determined  to  get  rid 
of  me,  imagining  that  by  doing  so  he  should  render  a  service  to 
France.  There  was  also  one  Ceracchi,  another  Corsican,  and  a 
famous  sculptor,  who,  when  I  was  at  Milan,  had  made  a  statue 
of  me.  He  too  had  been  greatly  attached  to  me,  but  being  a 
fanatical  republican,  determined  to  kill  me,  for  which  purpose 
he  came  to  Paris,  and  begged  to  have  the  honor  of  making 
another  statue  for  me,  alleging,  that  the  first  was  not  sufficiently 
well  executed  for  so  great  a  man.  Though  1  then  knew  nothing 
of  the  conspiracy  which  had  been  formed,  I  refused  to  give  my 
consent,  as  I  did  not  like  the  trouble  of  sitting  for  tvvo  or  thi'ee 
hours  in  the  same  posture  for  some  days,  especially  as  I  had  sat 
before  to  him.  This  saved  my  life — his  intention  being  to  po- 
niard me  whilst  I  was  sitting.  In  the  meantime,  they  had 
arranged  their  plans.  Amongst  them  there  was  a  captain,  who 
had  been  a  great  admirer  of  me.  This  man  agreed  with  the  rest, 
that  it  was  necessary  to  overturn  the  tyrant,  but  he  would  not 
consent  that  I  should  be  killed,  though  he  strenuously  joined  in 
everything  else.  All  the  others,  however,  differed  with  him  in 
opinion,  and  insisted  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  dispatch 
me,  as  the  only  means  of  preventing  France  from  being  enslaved. 
That  while  1  lived,  there  would  be  no  chance  of  freedom.  This 
captain,  finding  that  they  were  determined  to  shed  my  blood, 
notwithstanding  all  his  arguments  and  entreaties,  gave  inforOBft- 


210  A    VOICK    Fi:oM    ST.    JIELENA. 

tiou  s.>f  thi'ir  luiiiu's  and  j)lans.  They  were  to  assassinate  mo  on 
the  first  night  tlial  I  wont  to  the  theatre,  in  the  passage  as  I  was 
returning.  Everything  was  arranged  with  the  police  :  I  wont  the 
same  evening  to  the  tluatro,  and  actually  passed  through  the 
conspirators;  some  of  whom  1  know  l»y  person,  and  who  were 
armed  witli  poniards  under  their  cloaks,  in  order  to  dispatch  me 
when  1  was  going  out.  Shortly  after  my  arrival,  the  police 
seized  them  all.  They  were  searched,  and  the  poniards  found 
upon  them.  In  France  a  person  cannot  be  found  guilty  of  a  con- 
spiracy to  murder,  unless  the  instruments  of  death  are  found  upon 
him.     They  were  afterwards  tried,  and  some  executed." 

1  asked  some  questions  about  the  infernal-machine  transaction. 
Napoleon  replied  in  the  following  manner.  "  It  was  about 
Christmas  time,  and  great  festivities  were  going  on,  I  was  much 
pressed  to  go  the  opera,  I  had  been  greatly  occupied  with  busi- 
ness all  the  day,  and  in  the  evening  found  myself  sleepy  and 
tired.  1  threw  myself  on  a  sofa  in  my  wife's  saloon,  and  fell 
asleep.  Josephine  came  down  some  time  after,  awoke  me,  and 
insisted  that  I  should  go  to  the  theatre.  She  was  an  excellent 
woman,  and  wished  me  to  do  every  thing  to  ingratiate  myself 
with  the  people.  You  know  that  when  women  take  a  thing  into 
their  heads,  they  will  go  through  with  it,  and  you  must  gratify 
them.  Well,  I  got  up,  much  against  my  inclination,  and  went 
in  my  carriage,  accompanied  by  Lasnes  and  Bessieres.  I  was  so 
drowsy  that  I  fell  asleep  in  the  coach.  I  was  asleep  when  the 
explosion  took  place,  and  I  recollect,  when  I  awoke,  experiencing 
a  sensation  as  if  the  vehicle  had  been  raised  up,  and  was  passing 
through  a  great  body  of  water.  The  contrivers  of  this,  were  a 
man  named  St.  Regent,  Imolan,  a  religious  man,  who  has  since 
gone  to  America  and  turned  priest,  and  some  others.  They  got 
a  cart  and  barrel  resembling  that  with  which  water  is  supplied 
through  the  streets  of  Paris,  with  this  exception,  that  the  barrel 
was  put  crcjssways.  This  he  had  filled  with  gunpowder,  and 
placed  it  and  himself  nearly  in  the  turning  of  the  htroet  through 
which  I  was  to  pass.  What  saved  me  was,  that  my  wife's  car- 
riage was  the  same  in  appearance  as  mine,  and  there  was  a  guard 
of  iifteen  men  t>  each.     Imolan  did  not  know  which  1  was  in,  auO 


isn — JANUARY.  211 

indeed  was  not  certain,  that  I  should  be  in  either  of  thcuj.  In 
order  to  ascertain  this,  he  stepped  forward  to  look  into  the  car- 
riage, and  assure  himself  of  my  presence.  One  of  my  guards,  a 
great  tall  strong  fellow,  impatient  and  angry  at  seeing  a  man 
stopping  up  the  way,  and  staring  into  the  carriage,  rode  up,  and 
gave  him  a  kick,  with  his  great  boot,  crying,  '  get  out  of  the  way, 
pekin,''  which  knocked  him  down.  Before  he  could  get  up,  the 
carriage  had  passed  a  little  on,  Imolan  being  confused  1  sup- 
pose by  his  fall,  and  by  his  intentions,  not  perceiving  that  the 
carriage  had  passed,  ran  to  the  cart  and  exploded  his  machine 
between  the  two  carriages.  It  killed  the  horse  of  one  of  my 
guards  and  wounded  the  rider,  knocked  down  several  houses,  and 
killed  and  wounded  about  forty  or  fifty  badauds,  (idle  gazers,) 
who  were  gazing  to  see  me  pass.  The  police  collected  together 
all  the  renniants  of  the  cart  and  the  machine,  and  invited  all  th-e 
workmen  in  Paris  to  come  and  look  at  them.  The  pieces  were 
recognized  by  several.  One  said,  I  made  this,  another  that,  and 
all  agreed  that  they  had  sold  them  to  two  men,  who  by  their 
accent  were  Bas  Bretons;  but  nothing  more  could  be  ascer- 
tained !  Shortly  after,  the  hackney  coachmen  and  others  of  that 
description  gave  a  great  dinner  in  the  Champs  Elysees  to  Cesar, 
my  coachman,  thinking  that  he  had  saved  my  life  by  his  skill 
and  activity  at  the  moment  of  the  explosion,  which  was  not  the 
case,  for  he  was  drunk  at  the  time.  It  was  the  guardsman  who 
saved  it  by  knocking  the  fellow  down.  Possibly,  my  coachman 
may  have  assisted  by  driving  furiously  round  the  corner,  as  he 
was  drunk  and  not  afraid  of  any  thing.  lie  was  so  far  gone,  that 
he  thought  the  report  of  the  explosion  was  that  of  a  salute  fired 
in  honor  of  my  visit  to  the  theatre.  At  this  dinner,  they  all 
took  their  bottle  freely,  and  drank  to  Cesar's  health.  One  of 
them,  when  he  was  drunk,  said,  'Cesar,  1  know  the  men  who 
tried  to  blow  the  First  Consul  up  the  other  day.  In  such  a  street 
and  such  a  house,  (naming  them,)  1  saw  on  that  day  a  cart  like  a 
water-cart  coming  out  of  a  passage,  which  attracted  my  attention, 
as  1  never  had  seen  one  there  before.  1  observed  the  men  and 
the  horse,  and  should  know  them  again.'  The  minister  of  the 
police  was  sent  for,  he  was  interrogated,  and  brought  them  to  the 


212  A     VOICE    Fia»M    SI.    IIKLKNA. 

hoiiM'  whit-li  lir  had  iiioiititHKd,  where  ihey  found  llie  measure 
with  which  the  eoiisjtiraluis  liad  put  the  powder  into  the  barrel, 
with  stiiiie  of  the  powder  still  adhering  to  it.  A  little  alst»  was 
found  scattered  about.  The  master  of  the  house,  on  being  ques- 
tioned, said  that  there  lunl  been  jieople  there  for  some  time, 
whom  he  took  ti>  be  smugglers  ;  that  on  the  day  in  question 
they  had  gone  out  with  the  eart,  which  he  supposed  to  contain  a 
btading  of  smuggled  goods,  lie  added,  that  they  were  Bas  Bre- 
tons, and  that  one  of  them  had  the  appearance  of  being  master 
over  the  other  two.  Having  now  a  description  of  their  persons> 
every  search  was  made  for  them,  and  St.  Regent  and  Carbon 
were  taken,  tried,  and  executed.  It  was  a  singular  circumstance 
that  an  inspector  of  police  had  noticed  the  cart  standing  at  the 
corner  of  the  street  for  a  long  time,  and  had  ordered  the  person 
who  was  with  it  to  drive  it  away  ;  but  he  made  some  excuse,  and 
said  that  there  was  plenty  of  room,  and  the  other  seeing  what 
he  thought  to  be  a  water-cart,  with  a  miserable  horse,  not  worth 
twenty  francs,  did  not  suspect  any  mischief" 

"  At  Schoenbrunn,"  continued  the  emperor,  "  I  had  a  narrow 
escape.  Shortly  after  the  capture  of  Vienna,  I  reviewed  my 
troops  at  Schoenbrunn.  A  young  man,  about  eighteen  years  of 
age  presented  himself  to  me.  He  came  so  close  at  one  time  as 
to  touch  me,  and  said  that  he  wanted  to  speak  to  me.  Berthier, 
who  did  not  like  to  see  me  disturbed  then,  pushed  him  to  one 
side,  saying,  'If  you  want  to  say  any  thing  to  the  emperor,  you 
cannot  do  it  now.'  He  then  called  Rapp,  who  was  a  German, 
and  said,  '  Here  is  a  young  man  who  wishes  to  speak  to  the 
emperor ;  see  what  he  wants,  and  do  not  let  him  annoy  the  em- 
peror;' after  which  he  called  the  young  man,  and  told  him  that 
Rapp  spoke  German,  and  would  answer  him,  Rapp  went  up  to 
him,  and  asked  him  what  he  wanted  1  He  replied,  that  he  had  a 
memorial  to  give  to  the  emperor.  Rapp  told  him  that  1  was 
busy  and  that  he  could  not  speak  to  me  then.  He  had  his  hand 
in  his  breast  all  this  time,  as  if  he  had  some  paper  in  it  to  give 
to  me.  Finding  that  notwithstanding  his  refusal,  he  insisted 
upon  seeing  me,  and  was  pushing  t>n,  Rapp,  who  is  a  violent 
man,  gave  him  a  blow  of  his  fist,  and  knocked  him  down,  or 


1817 — JANUARY.  213 

shoved  him  away  to  some  distance.  He  came  again  afterwards, 
when  the  troops  were  passing.  Rapp,  who  watched  him,  ordered 
some  of  the  guards  to  seize  and  keep  him  in  custody  until  after 
the  review,  and  then  bring  him  to  his  quarters,  in  order  that  he 
might  learn  what  he  complained  of.  The  guards  observing  that 
he  always  kept  his  right  hand  in  his  breast,  made  him  draw  ii 
out,  and  examined  him.  Under  his  coat,  they  found  a  knife  as 
long  as  my  arm.  When  asked  what  he  intended  to  do  with  it, 
he  replied  instantly  '  To  kill  the  emperor.'  Some  short  time 
afterwards,  he  was  brought  before  me.  I  asked  him  what  he 
wanted.  He  replied,  '  To  kill  you.'  I  asked  him  what  I  had 
done  to  him  to  make  him  desire  to  take  away  my  life.  He  an- 
swered, that  I  had  done  a  great  deal  of  mischief  to  his  country  ; 
that  I  had  desolated  and  ruined  it  by  the  war  which  I  had  waged 
against  it.  I  asked  him  why  he  did  not  kill  the  emperor  of 
Austria  instead  of  me,  as  he  was  the  cause  of  the  war  and  not  I? 
He  replied,  '  Oh,  he  is  a  blockhead,  and  if  he  were  killed,  another 
like  him  would  be  put  upon  the  throne;  but  if  you  were  dead,  it 
would  not  be  easy  to  find  such  another.'  He  said  that  he  had 
been  called  upon  by  God  to  kill  me,  and  quoted  Judith  and 
Holofernes.  Spoke  much  about  religion,  and  fancied  that  he 
was  another  Judith  and  I  Holofernes.  He  cited  several  parts  of 
.he  Testament,  which  he  thought  appropriate  to  his  projects.  He 
A'as  the  son  of  a  Protestant  clergyman  at  Erfurth.  He  had  not 
nade  his  father  privy  to  his  design,  and  he  had  left  his  houKC 
without  money.  I  believe  that  he  had  sold  his  watch  in  order  to 
purchase  the  knife  with  which  he  intended  to  kill  me.  He  said 
that  he  trusted  in  God  to  find  him  the  means  to  effect  it.  I  calbd 
Corvisart,  ordered  him  to  feel  his  pulse,  and  see  if  he  were  mad, 
He  did  so,  and  every  thing  was  calm.  I  desired  him  to  be  taken 
away  and  locked  up  in  a  room  with  a  gendarme^  to  have  no  sort 
of  food  for  twenty-four  hours,  but  as  much  cold  water  as  he 
Uked.  I  wished  to  give  him  time  to  cool  and  reflect,  and  then  to 
examine  him  when  his  stomach  was  empty,  and  at  a  time  when 
rie  might  not  be  .supposed  to  be  under  the  influence  of  any  thing 
that  would  heat  or  exalt  his  imagination.  After  the  twenty-four 
hours  were  exp'red,  I  sent  for  hiu),  and  asked,  '  If  1  were  to  par 


214  A   VOICE    FKOM    ST.    HKLKNA. 

don  you,  wouKi  voii  luakf  anutlicr  atloiiipt  ujmii  my  lift!?'  lie 
lu'sitati'd  for  a  loiiy  time,  and  at  last,  but  with  great  diflieulty, 
said  that  ho  would  not.  as  then  it  would  not  appear  to  he  the 
intention  of  God  that  he  should  kill  me,  otherwise  he  would  have 
allowed  him  to  have  done  it  at  first.  I  ordered  liim  to  be  taken 
away.  It  was  my  intention  at  first  to  have  pardoned  him;  but  it 
was  represented  to  me,  that  his  hesitation  after  twenty-four  hours 
fasting,  was  a  certain  sign  that  his  intentions  were  bad,  and  that 
he  still  intended  to  assassinate.  That  he  was  an  enthusiast,  a 
fanatic,  and  that  it  would  set  a  very  bad  e.xaniple.  Nothing," 
continued  he,  "  is  more  dangerous  than  one  of  those  religious 
enthusiasts.  They  always  aim  either  at  God  or  the  king.  He 
was  left  to  his  fate." 

"Another  time,"  proceeded  the  emperor,  "a  letter  was  sent  to 
me  by  the  King  of  Sa.vony,  containing  intbrmation  that  a  certain 
person  was  to  leave  Stutgard  on  a  particular  day  for  Paris,  where 
he  would  probably  arrive  on  a  day  that  was  pointed  out.  That 
his  intentions  were  to  murder  me.  A  minute  description  of  his 
person  was  also  given.  The  police  took  its  measures ;  and  on 
the  day  pointed  out  he  arrived.  They  had  him  watched.  He 
was  seen  to  enter  my  chapel,  to  which  I  had  gone  on  the  celebra- 
tion of  some  festival.  He  was  arrested  and  examined.  He 
confessed  his  intentions,  and  said,  that  when  the  people  knelt 
down,  on  the  elevation  of  the  host,  he  saw  me  gazing  at  the  fine 
women  ;  at  first  he  intended  to  advance  and  fire  at  me ;  (in  fact 
he  had  advanced  near  to  me  at  the  moment;)  but  upon  a  little 
reflection,  thought  that  v/ould  not  be  sure  enough,  and  he  de- 
termined to  stab  me  with  a  knife  which  he  had  brought  for  that 
purpose.  I  did  not  like  to  have  him  executed,  and  ordered  that 
he  should  be  kept  in  prison.  When  I  was  no  longer  at  the  head 
of  afliairs,  this  man,  who  had  been  detained  in  prison  for  seven 
months  after  I  left  Paris,  and  ill-treated,  I  believe,  got  his  liberty. 
Soon  after,  he  said  that  his  designs  were  no  longer  to  kill  me; 
but  that  he  would  murder  the  King  of  Prussia,  for  having  ill- 
treated  the  Saxons  and  Saxony.  On  my  return  from  Elba,  I 
was  to  be  present  at  the  opening  of  the  legislative  body,  which 
was  to  be  done  with  great  state  and  ceremony.     When  I  went  tv 


1817— JANUARY.  215 

open  the  chamber,  this  same  man,  who  had  got  in,  fell  down  by 
some  accident,  and  a  parcel  containing  some  chemical  preparation, 
exploded  in  his  pocket,  and  wounded  him  severely.  It  never  has 
been  clearly  ascertained  what  his  intentions  were  at  this  time. 
Tt  caused  great  alarm  amongst  the  legislative  body,  and  he  was 
arrested.  I  have  since  heard  that  he  threw  himself  into  the 
Seine." 

I  then  asked  Napoleon  if  he  had  really  intended  to  invade 
England,  and  if  so,  what  were  his  plans'?  He  replied,  "I  would 
have  headed  it  myself  I  had  given  orders  for  two  fleets  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  West  Indies.  Instead  of  remaining  there,  they  were 
merely  to  show  themselves  amongst  the  islands,  and  return 
directly  to  Europe,  raise  the  blockade  of  Ferrol,  take  the  ships 
out,  proceed  to  Brest,  where  there  were  about  forty  sail  of  the 
line,  unite  and  sail  to  the  Channel,  where  they  would  not  have 
met  with  any  thing  strong  enough  to  engage  them,  and  clear  it 
of  all  English  men-of-war  By  false  intelligence,  adroitly  man- 
aged, I  calculated  that  you  would  have  sent  squadrons  to  the 
East  and  West  Indies  and  Mediterranean  in  search  of  my  fleets. 
Before  they  could  return,  I  would  have  had  the  command  of  the 
Channel  for  two  months,  as  I  should  have  had  about  seventy  sail 
of  the  line,  besides  frigates.  I  would  have  hastened  over  my 
flotilla  with  two  hundred  thousand  men,  landed  as  near  Chatham 
as  possible,  and  proceeded  direct  to  London,  where  I  calculated 
to  arrive  in  four  days  from  the  time  of  my  landing.  I  would 
have  proclaimed  a  republic,  (I  was  First  Consul  then,)  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  nobility  and  house  of  peers,  the  distribution  of  the 
property  of  such  of  the  latter  as  opposed  me  amongst  my  par- 
tizans,  liberty,  equality,  and  the  sovereignty  of  the  people.  I 
would  have  allowed  the  House  of  Commons  to  remain;  but 
would  have  introduced  a  great  reform.  I  would  have  published 
a  proclamation,  declaring  that  we  came  as  friends  to  the  English, 
and  to  free  the  nati(jn  from  a  corrupt  and  flagitious  aristocracy, 
and  restore  a  popular  form  of  government,  a  democracy,  which 
would  have  been  confirmed  by  the  conduct  of  my  army,  as  I 
would  not  have  allowed  the  slightest  outrage  to  be  committed  by 
my  troops.     Marauding,   or  ill-treating  the  inhabitants,  or   the 


216  A    VOlfK    MvOM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

most  triflinj;  infriiigi'iiioiit  of  my  ordois,  I  would  liavo  (niiiishcd 
with  instant  donth.  I  think,"  eoiitiiiuod  he,  "that  witli  my 
promises,  to<,'otlK'r  with  what  I  wouki  actually  have  cHocted,  I 
should  have  had  the  support  of  a  great  many.  In  a  large  city 
like  London,  where  there  are  so  many  cunafllv,  (of  the  lower 
class.)  and  so  many  disatlected,  I  should  have  been  joined  hy  a 
formidable  body.  I  would  at  the  same  time  have  excited  an  in- 
surrection in  Ireland."  I  observed  that  his  army  would  have 
been  destroyed  piece-meal,  that  he  would  have  had  a  million  of 
men  in  arms  against  him  in  a  short  time;  and  moreover,  that 
the  English  would  have  burnt  Li)ndon,  rather  than  have  suffered 
it  to  fall  into  his  hands.  "  No,  no,"  said  Napoleon,  "  1  do  not 
believe  it.  You  are  too  rich  and  too  fond  of  money.  A  nation 
will  not  so  readily  burn  its  capital.  How  often  have  the  Pari- 
sians sworn  to  bury  themselves  under  the  ruins  of  their  capital, 
rather  than  suffer  it  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemies  of 
France,  and  yet  twice  it  has  been  taken.  There  is  no  knowing 
what  would  have  happened,  Mr.  Doctor.  Neither  Pitt,  nor  you, 
nor  1,  could  have  foretold  what  w'ould  have  been  the  result.  The 
hope  of  a  change  for  the  better,  and  of  a  division  of  property, 
would  have  operated  wonderfully  amongst  the  canaille,  especially 
that  of  London.  The  canaille  of  all  rich  nations  are  nearly  alike. 
I  would  have  made  such  promises  as  would  have  had  a  great 
effect.  What  resistance  could  an  undisciplined  army  make 
against  mine  in  a  country  like  England,  abounding  in  plains?  I 
considered  all  you  have  said,  but  I  calculated  on  the  effect  that 
would  be  produced  by  the  possession  of  a  great  and  rich  capital, 
the  bank,  and  all  your  riches,  the  ships  in  the  river,  and  at 
Chatham.  I  expected  that  I  should  have  had  the  command  of  the 
Channel  for  two  months,  by  which  1  should  have  had  supplies  of 
troops;  and  when  your  fleet  came  back,  they  would  have  found 
their  capital  in  the  hands  of  an  enemy,  and  their  country  over- 
whelmed by  my  armies.  I  would  have  abolished  flogging,  and 
promised  your  seamen  every  thing;  which  would  have  made  a 
great  impression  upon  their  minds.  The  proclamations  stating 
that  we  came  only  as  friends,  to  relieve  the  English  from  an 
:)bnoxious  and  despotic  aristocracy,  whose  object  was  to  keep  the 


1817 — JANUARY.  217 

nation  eternally  at  wur,  in  order  to  enrich  themselves  and  their 
families  with  the  blood  of  the  people,  together  with  the  pro- 
claiming a  republic,  the  abolition  of  the  monarchical  government, 
and  the  nobility  ;  the  declaration  of  the  forfeiture  of  the  property 
of  the  latter,  and  its  division  amongst  the  partizans  of  the  revo 
lution,  with  a  general  equalization  of  property,  would  have 
gained  me  the  support  of  the  canaille  and  of  all  the  idle,  the  pro- 
fligate, and  the  disaffected  in  the  kingdom." 

I  took  the  liberty  of  stating,  that  on  account  of  France  having 
been  lately  revolutionized,  there  was  a  great  division  of  opinion 
amongst  the  French,  and  consequently  not  so  strong  a  national 
spirit  as  was  to  be  found  amongst  the  English.  That  from  the 
late  frequent  vicissitudes  in  France,  the  people  contemplated  a 
change  of  government  with  less  concern  than  the  English  would 
do;  that  if  the  English  were  not  to  burn  their  capital,  as  the 
Russians  had  done,  in  all  probability  they  would  have  defended 
it  street  by  street,  and  his  army  would  have  met  the  fate  that 
ours  had  experienced  at  Rosetta  and  Buenos  Ayres.  "  I  believe," 
replied  the  emperor,  "that  there  is  more  national  spirit  in  Eng- 
land than  in  France  ;  but  still,  I  do  not  think  that  you  would 
have  burned  the  capital.  If,  indeed,  you  had  had  some  weeks' 
notice  given  to  you,  in  order  to  remove  your  riches,  then  it  is 
possible  that  it  might  have  been  effected ;  but  you  must  consider 
that  you  would  not  have  had  time  sufficient  to  organize  a  plan  ; 
besides,  Moscow  was  built  of  wood,  and  it  was  not  the  inhabitants 
who  set  it  on  fire.  They  had  also  time  to  take  their  measures. 
As  to  defending  the  town,  in  the  first  place,  I  would  not  have 
been  bete  (foolish)  enough  to  have  acted  as  you  did  at  Rosetta  ; 
for,  before  you  would  have  had  time  to  arrange  your  defence,  I 
should  have  been  at  your  doors,  and  the  terror  of  such  an  army 
would  have  paralyzed  your  exertions.  I  tell  you,  fiignor  dodore,'" 
(Mr.  Doctor,)  continued  the  emperor,  "that  much  can  be  said  on 
both  sides.  Having  the  capital,  the  capital,"  repeated  he,  "in 
my  hands,  would  have  produced  a  wonderful  effect." 

"After  the  treaty  of  Amiens,"  said  Napoleon,  "I  would  also 
have  made  a  good  peace  with  England.  Whatever  your  ministers 
Bnay  say,  I  was  always  ready  to  conclude  a  peace  upon  terms 

10 


218  A    VOICK    FROM    ST     HKLKNA. 

equally  jidvantayeous  to  both.  I  proposed  to  form  a  commercial 
treaty,  by  which,  for  a  niillion  of  English  mumifactiired  or  colonial 
produce  taken  by  France,  England  should  take  the  value  of  a 
luillion  of  French  goods  in  return.  This  was  thought  a  heinous 
crime  by  your  ministers,  who  reprobated  in  the  most  violent 
manner  my  presumption  in  having  made  such  a  proposal.  1 
would  both  have  made  and  have  kept  a  fair  peace;  but  your 
ministers  always  refused  to  make  one  on  equal  terms,  and  then 
wished  to  persuade  the  world  that  1  was  the  violator  of  the  treaty 
of  Amiens." 

I  asked  who  were  the  persons  that  had  employed  the  contrivers 
of  the  infernal  machine.  ''It  is  certain,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  that 
they  were  employed  by  the  Count  d'****,  and  sent  over  by  Pitt 
in  English  ships,  and  furnished  with  English  money.  Though 
your  ***  did  not  actually  suborn  them,  they  knew  what  they 
were  going  to  execute,  and  furnished  them  with  the  means.  1 
do  not  believe,"  continued  he,  "  that  Louis  was  privy  to  it." 

I  ventured  to  ask  if  he  had  aimed  at  universal  dominion. 
"  No,"  replied  Napoleon ;  "  my  intention  was  to  make  France 
greater  than  any  other  nation  ;  but  universal  dominion  I  did  not 
aim  at.  For  example,  it  was  not  my  intention  to  have  passed 
the  Alps.  I  purposed,  when  I  had  a  second  son,  which  I  had 
reason  to  hope  for,  to  have  made  him  king  of  Italy,  with  Rome 
for  his  capital,  uniting  all  Italy,  Naples,  and  Sicily,  into  one 
kingdom,  and  putting  Murat  out  of  Naples."  I  asked  if  he 
would  have  given  another  kingdom  to  Murat.  "  Oh,"  replied  he, 
"  that  would  have  been  easily  settled." 

"  If,"  said  he,  "  I  were  at  the  head  of  affairs  in  England,  I 
would  devise  some  means  of  paying  off  the  national  debt.  1 
would  appropriate  to  that  purpose  the  whole  of  the  church  livings, 
except  a  tenth,  (always  excepting  those  whose  incomes  were 
moderate,)  in  a  manner  that  the  salary  of  the  highest  amongst 
the  clergy  should  not  exceed  eight  hundred  or  a  thousand  a  year. 
What  business  have  those  priests  with  such  enormous  incomes] 
They  shr  uld  follow  the  directions  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  ordered 
that,  as  pastors  to  the  people,  they  should  set  an  example  of  mo- 
deration, humanity,  virtue,  and  poverty,  instead  of  wallowing  in 


1817 — JANtTART.  2  If* 

ftches,  luxury,  and  sloth.  In  Cambray,  before  the  revolution, 
two-thirds  of  all  lands  belonged  to  the  church,  and  a  fourth  in 
most  other  provinces  of  France.  I  would  approjjriate  to  a  simi- 
lar purpose  all  sinecures,  except  those  enjoyed  by  men  who  had 
rendered  most  eminent  services  to  the  state  ;  and.  indeed,  even 
those  might  be  rewarded  by  giving  them  some  office,  in  which 
they  would  be  obliged  to  do  something.  If  you  emancipated  the 
Catholics,  they  would  readily  pay  an  immense  sum  towards 
liquidating  the  nation's  debt.  1  cannot  conceive,"  continued  he, 
"  why  your  ministers  have  not  emancipated  them.  At  the  time 
that  all  nations  are  emerging  from  illiberality  and  intolerance, 
you  retain  your  disgraceful  laws,  which  are  only  worthy  of  two 
or  three  centuries  back.  When  the  Catholic  question  was  first 
seriously  agitated,  I  would  have  given  fifty  millions  to  be  assured 
that  it  would  not  be  granted ;  for  it  would  have  entirely  ruined 
my  projects  upon  Ireland;  as  the  Catholics,  if  you  emancipated 
them,  would  become  as  loyal  subjects  as  the  Protestants.  I 
would,"  continued  he,  "  impose  a  tax  of  fifty  per  cent  upon 
absentees,  and  perhaps  diminish  the  interest  upon  the  debt." 

I  made  some  observations  upon  the  intolerance  which  had 
been  manifested  on  some  occasions  by  the  Catholics. 

"  The  inability  to  rise  above  a  certain  rank,  and  to  be  members 
of  parliament,  and  other  persecutions  once  removed  from  your 
Catholic  biethren,"  replied  he,  "  you  will  find  that  they  will  be 
no  longer  intolerant  or  fanatical.  Fanaticism  is  always  the  child 
of  persecution.  That  intolerance  which  you  complain  of,  is  also 
the  result  of  your  oppressive  laws.  Remove  them  once,  and 
put  them  on  a  similar  footing  with  the  Protestants,  and  in  a  few 
years  you  will  find  the  spirit  of  intolerance  disappear.  Do  as  J 
did  in  France  with  the  Protestants." 

"I  observed,"  continued  the  emperor,  "a  circumstance  in  a 
paper  two  or  three  days  ago,  which  I  cannot  believe,  viz.  that 
there  was  a  project  in  France  to  make  a  contract  with  some 
English  company  to  furnish  iron  pipes  to  supply  Paris  with 
water,  which  had  met  with  the  approbation  of  the  French  gov- 
ernment. Tliis,  imbeciles  as  I  know  the  Bourbons  to  be,  appears 
to  me  not  to  be  credible,  as  there  are  so  many  thousand  manufac 


220  A  VOICE   FROM   ST.    HELENA. 

tutors  ii.  Fraiu-o  who  fould  rxocule  it  I'qiuilly  wt'll,  A  project 
so  unpopular,  and  of  so  destructive  a  tendency  to  tlieniselves, 
could  bo  entertained  by  none  but  insane  persons.  Why,  it 
would  excite  the  rage  and  hatred  of  the  nation  against  the  Bc)ur- 
bons  n)ore  than  any  plan  their  greatest  enemies  could  suggest, 
to  cause  their  own  ruin,  and  their  expulsion  a  third  time  from 
France.  If  it  takes  place  and  be  not  followed  'by  some  terrible 
consequences  {a  them,"  said  Napoleon  with  energy,"!  am  a 
blockhead,  and  will  say  that  I  have  always  been  one.  Fifty 
years  ago,  it  would  have  produced  terrible  commotion  in  France." 

28///. — Cipriani  in  town,  purchasing  necessaries. 

30//^ — Saw  Napoleon  in  the  billiard-room.  After  some  ex 
pressions  of  his  sentiments  upon  the  hypocrisy  of  the  governor, 
he  directed  me  to  bear  the  following  message  to  him  :  "Tell  him 
that,  in  consequence  of  his  conduct  in  having  accei)ted  the  pro- 
posed intermediation  of  the  admiral,  declaring  that  he  would 
charge  the  admiral  with  it,  and  afterwards  doing  nothing,  I  con- 
ceive him  to  be  a  man  senza  parola  e  senza  fede*  That  he  has 
broken  his  word  with  me — broken  a  compact  which  is  held  sacred 
by  robbers  and  Bedouin  Arabs — but  not  by  the  agents  of  the 
British  ministers.  Tell  him  that  when  a  man  has  lost  his  word, 
he  has  lost  everything  which  distinguishes  the  man  from  the 
brute.  Tell  him  that  he  has  forfeited  that  distinction,  and  that  I 
hold  him  to  be  inferior  to  the  robber  of  the  desert.  Independ- 
ent," continued  he,  "  of  his  conduct,  with  respect  to  the  admiral, 
he  has  broken  his  word  about  the  limits.  He  charged  you  to 
inform  me  that  we  were  permitted  to  ride  anywhere  through  the 
old  bounds,  and  specially  named  the  path  by  Miss  Mason's. 
Now  Gourgaud  went  a  few  days  ago  and  asked  the  question  from 
the  major  at  Hut's  Gate,  who  told  him  that  he  could  not  pass, 
and  that  no  change  had  been  made  in  the  orders  by  the  governor." 

I  now  informed  the  emperor,  "that  since  the  time  he  alluded 
to,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  given  directions  to  allow  him  (Napo- 
leon) and  any  of  his  suite,  to  pass  by  the  road  leading  to  Mis? 
Mason's,  but  that  they  could  not  pass  unless  accompanied  by 
him."     Napoleon  replied,  "Then  it  is  an  unjust  order,  and  bfr 

*  Without  word  and  without  faith. 


1817 — JANUARY,  221 

yond  his  power  to  give.  For,  hy  the  paper  which  those  generals 
have  signed,  by  order  of  his  government,  they  bind  themselves 
to  undergo  such  restrictions  as  it  may  be  thought  necessary  to 
impose  upon  me,  and  not  any  more.  Now  this  is  a  restriction 
not  imposed  upon  me,  and  consequently  cannot  be  inflicted  upon 
them,  and  is  illegal." 

Napoleon  directed  me  to  say  in  addition.  That  he  had  foreseen 
all  along  that  the  governor's  having  accepted  of  the  offer  fur  an 
intermediation  by  means  of  the  admiral,  was  a  mere  trick  to  gain 
time,  and  to  prevent  a  complaint  from  being  sent  home  by  the 
Orontes  frigate.  That,  in  consequence  of  the  offer  having  been 
accepted  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  Count  Bertrand  had  discontinued 
writing  a  complaint,  intended  to  have  been  submitted  to  the 
Prince  Regent  and  the  government.  That,  although  it  might 
have  failed  in  producing  any  redress,  still  it  would  be  satisfactory 
to  know  that  the  present  ill-treatment  suffered  by  him,  was  the 
act  and  order  of  the  government,  and  not  that  of  an  inferior 
officer. 

Went  to  town  to  deliver  this  message.  On  my  arrival,  found 
that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  left  it.  Conceiving  that  Napoleon 
might  alter  his  mind,  and  finding  that  the  Julia  had  arrived, 
bringing  news  from  England,  I  did  not  proceed  to  Plantation 
House.  Got  some  newspapers  and  returned  to  Longwood. 
Found  Napoleon  in  a  warm  bath.  His  legs  were  swelled.  On 
my  recommending  exercise,  he  said  that  he  had  some  idea  of 
asking  the  admiral  to  ride  out  with  him,  but  was  afraid  that  it 
might  get  him  into  a  scrape  with  the  governor. 

In  one  of  the  papers,  there  was  a  report  that  the  sovereignty 
of  Spanish  South  America  had  been  offered  to  his  brother  Joseph. 
"  Joseph,"  said  he,  "  though  he  has  beauconp  de  laleni,  et  d'esprit, 
(much  talent  and  genius)  is  too  good  a  man,  and  too  fond  of 
amusement  and  literature,  to  be  a  king.  However,  it  would  be 
of  great  advantage  to  England,  as  you  would  have  all  the  com- 
merce of  Spanish  Anierieu.  Joseph  would  not,  and  indeed  could 
not,  trade  with  either  France  or  Spain,  for  evident  reasons  ;  and 
South  America  cannot  do  without  importing  immense  quantities 
of  European  goods.     By  having  me  in  your  hands,  you  could 


'222  A    \i)H'K    FKOM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

always  makf  advaiitayi'i'iis   u-rms  willi  Jusi'|>li,  who   loves   me 
siiiooroly,  and  wuukl  do  any  thing  for  nie." 

31*/. — Went  to  Plantation  House,  and  made  known  to  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  the  message  I  was  charged  with,  in  as  moderate 
language  as  circumstances  would  admit.  His  i-xeellency  replied 
that  he  did  n(tt  care  what  complaints  General  Bonaparte  sent  to 
England,  and  that  he  had  already  forwarded  his  observations 
upon  the  restrictions.  That  he  had  no  (»l)jection  to  receive  the 
admiial  u[>on  the  business,  but  he  expected  that  he  should  come 
to  him  first  and  break  the  matter.  1  remarked  that  Sir  Pulteney 
Malcolm  would  certainly  not  undertake  the  business,  unless  first 
spoken  to  and  authorized  by  him,  (Sir  Hudson)  and  reminded 
him,  that  in  the  first  proposition  which  had  been  made  for  the 
Intervention  of  the  admiral,  it  was  expressly  mentioned  that  the 
latter  should  be  authorized  by  the  governor  to  undertake  it.  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  denied  this.  1  demanded  that  a  reference  should 
be  made  to  my  letter  on  the  subject.  On  its  being  produced, 
Sir  Hudson  Lowe  acknowledged,  with  some  expression  of  discon- 
tent, that  I  was  right.  1  then  reminded  him  that  he  had  also 
said,  on  the  proposition's  having  been  made  to  him,  that  he  would 
speak  to  the  admiral  himself  about  it,  previous  to  his  attempting 
to  undertake  it.  The  governor  at  first  denied  this,  and,  after  a 
long  discussion,  determined  upon  giving  the  following  reply  : 
"  The  governor  is  employed  in  writing  an  answer  to  the  obser- 
vations of  Count  Bertrand,  and  to  the  paper  containing  the  re- 
marks on  his  answer  to  the  proposition  for  the  intervention  of 
the  admiral,  and  also  in  arranging  how  far  his  instructions  will 
permit  him  to  accede  to  General  Bonaparte's  wishes.  When 
these  are  finished,  he  will  send  them  to  Count  Bertrand  ;  and 
then,  if  any  other  arrangement  is  deemed  necessary,  the  governor 
will  have  no  objections  to  authorize  the  admiral,  or  any  other 
person  General  Bonaparte  may  think  proper,  to  act  as  an  inter- 
mediator, though  the  intermediation  of  any  person  will  have  no 
influence  whatsoever  in  inducing  the  governor  to  grant  more  or 
less  than  he  would  do  of  his  own  free  will  and  judgment.  This, 
with  the  alterations  already  made  in  the  restrictions,  and  the 
general   tenor  of  the  observations   and    remarks  received  from 


1817 — JANUARY.  22S 

Longwood,  since  the  govei'iior  expressed  his  readiness  to  employ 
an  intermediator,  and  the  expectation  of  an  arrival  from  Eng 
land,  has  been  the  cause  of  the  delay  in  authorizing  the  admiral 
to  undertake  the  office." 

Sir  Hudson  desired  me  to  show  this  to  Napoleon,  and  at  the 
same  time  gave  me  a  copy  of  his  own  answer  to  the  original 
proposition,  and  one  of  the  remarks  that  had  been  made  upon  it 
by  Napoleon,  which,  together  with  the  tenor  of  the  observations, 
he  desired  me  to  explain,  "  were  of  a  nature  to  induce  a  belief 
that  a  refusal  had  been  intended  by  General  Bonaparte." 

I  then  repeated  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  the  observations  made  by 
Napoleon,  on  the  illegality  of  his  attempting  to  subject  the  per- 
sons of  his  suite  to  more  restrictions  than  what  were  imposed 
upon  himself;  as  well  as  what  he  had  said  about  General  Gour- 
gaud.  Sir  Hudson  replied,  "  That  as  governor,  he  had  power  to 
grant  a  favor,  and  take  it  away  when  he  pleased  :  that  if  he  con- 
ceded one  to  General  Bonaparte,  it  did  not  follow  that  he  was 
obliged  to  grant  the  same  to  the  rest ;  that  they  had  liberty  to 
go  away  whenever  they  pleased,  if  they  did  not  like  their  treat- 
ment," &c.  He  also  desired  me  to  repeat,  that  the  prohibition 
to  speak  was  an  act  of  civility,  or  a  friendly  sort  of  warning.  I 
remarked  that  I  did  not  think  Napoleon  would  avail  himself  of 
the  indulgence,  unless  the  same  were  granted  to  all.  His  excel- 
lency replied,  "  That  he  could  not  think  of  allowing  General 
Bonaparte's  officers  to  run  al)Out  the  country,  telling  lies  of  him 
(Sir  Hudson)  as  Las  Cases  and  Montholon  had  done,  by  having 
shown  letters  to  divers  persons.  That  General  Bonaparte  would 
be  much  better,  if  he  had  not  such  liars  as  Montholon,  and  such 
a  blubbering,  whining  son  of  a  b — h  as  Bertrand,  about  him." 

1  said,  that  Napoleon  had  also  remarked,  that  it  was  impossi- 
ble that  all  the  restrictions  could  iiave  been  imposed  in  oljcdience 
to  specific  instructions  from  the  ministers,  as  he  had  of  his  own 
power  taken  some  of  them  (jflf,  which,  had  they  been  ordered  by 
ministers,  he  could  not  have  done  without  having  first  obtained 
their  sanction,  for  which  there  had  n(jt  been  yet  sufficient  time. 
His  excellency  appeared  to  be  taken  unawares,  as  he  imme- 
diately replied,  "  They   were  not  ordered  by   ministers  j  there 


224  A  VOICE    FROM    ST.    IlKLENA. 

well'  no  ininuto  dofails  u;iven,  oithor  to  me,  or  to  Sir  George 
Cockliurn.  In  fact,  it  is  left  entirely  to  my  juJjfment,  and  I  may 
take  what  measures  1  think  proper,  and,  indeed,  do  as  I  like.  I 
have  been  ordered  to  take  particular  care  that  he  does  not  escapet 
a!)d  to  prevent  correspondence  of  any  kind  with  him,  except 
through  me.     The  rest  is  left  to  myself' 

Admiral  and  Lady  Malcolm,  with  Captain  Maynel,  had  an 
interview  at  Longwood. 

Fibruanj  \st. — Informed  Napoleon  of  what  I  had  been  di- 
rected by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe.  Showed  him  his  excellency's 
answer  to  the  proposition  for  intermediation,  with  his  remarks 
opposite  to  it.  "  I  maintained,  and  will  maintain,"  replied  the 
emperor,  "  that  his  last  restrictions  are  worse  than  any  in  force 
at  Botany  Bay,  because  even  there,  it  is  not  attempted  to  prohi- 
bit people  from  speaking.  It  is  useless  for  him  to  endeavor  to 
persuade  us,  that  we  have  not  been  ill-treated  by  him.  We  are 
not  simpletons,  or  ordinary  people.  There  is  not  a  free-born 
man,  whose  hair  would  not  stand  on  end  with  horror,  on  reading 
such  an  atrocious  proceeding,  as  that  prohibition  against  speaking. 
His  assertion,  that  it  was  intended  as  civility,  is  a  mockery,  and 
adds  irony  and  insult  to  injury.  I  know  well,  that  if  he  really 
intended  to  grant  any  thing,  it  is  in  his  power  to  do  so  without  a 
mediator.  It  was  a  mark  of  imbecility  in  him  to  have  accepted 
the  proposition,  but  having  once  accepted  it,  he  ought  not  to  have 
broken  his  word.  Qualche  volta  lo  credo  un  boja  ch^e  venuto  per 
assassinarmi^  ma  e  piiilosto  vn  vomo  incapace,  e  senza  cuore,  che 
non  capisee  il  suo  impier/o,"* 

A  few  days  ago,  Count  Bertrand  sent  a  sealed  letter  to  Cap- 
tain Poppleton,  directed  to  Sir  Thomas  Reade.  As  Captain 
Poppletoii  had  orders  to  forward  all  sealed  letters  to  the  gover 
nor,  he  sent  it  to  Plantation  House,  where  it  was  opened  by  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  and  found  to  contain  an  open  letter  addressed  to 
Bertrand's  father,  announcing  the  accouchement  of  Countess  Ber- 
trand, and  a  note  to  Sir  Thomas,  requesting  that  it  might  be  for- 

*  Sometimes  I  believe  tliat  he  is  an  executioner,  who  has  come  to  assassiuata 
me  ;  but  be  is  rather  a  man  of  incapacity  and  without  heart,  who  does  not  com- 
prehend Ills  office. 


1817 — FEBRUARY.  225 

warded  tc  Europe  through  the  usual  channels.  In  the  letter 
were  the  words,  nous  ecrivons  a  M.  de  la  Touche,  d-c,  (we  write 
to  M.  de  la  Touche,)  to  give  further  information,  &c.  Sir  Hud- 
son Lowe  conceived  that  this  meant  that  they  had  written^  and 
immediately  wrote  a  letter  of  reprimand  to  Count  Bertrand. 
which  was  dispatched  in  haste  by  an  orderly  dragoon." 

Saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  on  the  hill  above  Hut's  Gate,  to  whom 
I  communicated  Napoleon's  reply.  His  excellency  repeated, 
that  the  prohibition  to  speak,  which  had  been  so  much  com- 
plaii.ed  of,  was  not  an  order,  but  rather  a  request,  and  an  in- 
stance of  civility  on  his  (Sir  Hudson's)  part  in  order  to  prevent 
the  necessity  which  would  otherwise  exist,  of  the  interference  of 
a  British  officer.  "  Did  you  tell  him  that  ?"  said  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe.  I  answered  that  I  had.  "Well,  what  reply  did  he 
make?"  I  gave  his  reply,  which  did  not  appear  to  please  the 
governor.  I  subsequently  acquainted  him  that  water  was  so 
scarce  at  Longwood,  as  to  make  it  sometimes  impossible  to  pro- 
cure a  sufficiency  for  a  bath  for  Napoleon's  use,  and  that  it  was 
generally  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  to  obtain  the  necessary 
quantity.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  replied,  "  that  he  did  not  know 
what  business  General  Bonaparte  had  to  stew  himself  in  hot  water 
for  so  many  hours,  and  so  often,  at  a  time  when  the  53d  regi- 
ment  could  scarcely  procure  enough  of  water  to  cook  their 
victuals." 

Napoleon  went  down  to  pay  a  visit  to  Count  and  Countess 
Bertrand,  where  he  remained  nearly  two  hours. 

2/u/. — Napoleon  in  a  balh.  "  This  govcDior,''  said  he,  "sent  a 
letter  two  or  three  days  since  to  Bertrand,  which  convinces  me 
that  he  is  composed  of  imbecility,  incapacity,  and  a  little  cun- 
ning, but  that  incapacity  prevails.  He  wrote  to  Bertrand  as  one 
would  write  to  a  child  of  eight  or  ten  years  of  age,  demanding, 
that  if  he  had  sent  letters  to  Europe  through  any  other  channel 
than  his,  he  should  let  him  know  hy  whcmi  ?  He  does  not  un- 
derstand Erench.  It  is  a  delicacy  of  the  French  language,  that 
when  you  write  in  the  present  tense, /e'cr/i',  (I  write)  for  example, 
it  means  that  it  is  your  positive  intention  to  write,  but  that  you 
have  not  yet  done  it.     It  is  a  delicate  mode  of  expression  to  use 

10* 


*JL*ti  A   VOICK    FROM    ST.    IIKI.KNA. 

till-  prosont  tonso,  iiistoad  nf  tlio  fiituio.  If  Borliain]  had  written, 
/'//  ecrit,  {I  have  wrilti-ii)  tlu'ii,  iiidei'd,  it  would  iiu-aii  tliat  he 
had  po>itivt'Iy  written  ;  but  the  other  denotes  a  firm  intention 
and  determination  of  doing  what  has  not  yet  been  cxeeuted.  lie 
might  be  exeused  for  not  liaving  known  the  delieaeies  of  a  hm 
guage  not  his  own,  if  lie  did  not  pretend  to  otl'er  reniarUs  upon 
them.  In  his  situation,  he  ought  to  be  like  a  confessor,  forget 
the  eoiitents  of  letters,  aftir  having  perused  them. 

''\N'liat  else  but  A/  n/yc  (llu-  ili'li)  to  writ*'  and  to  tind  fault, 
eould  have  produced  such  an  epistle  to  Hertrand  1*  I  am  told, 
that  there  is  a  cook  here  who  had  formerly  served  him,  who 
relates,  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  going  iuto  the  kitchen  of 
Plantation  House,  and  telling  the  cook,  'You  shall  cut  off  so 
much  of  this  meat  and  stew  it — so  much  more  and  roast  it ;'  and 
in  a  similar  manner  with  every  other  dish — and  that  he  was  quite 
at  home  when  he  got  into  the  kitchen.  Montholon  tells  me,  that 
a  short  time  ago,  when  debating  about  the  expenses  of  the  house, 
he  observed,  that  we  soiled  too  many  shirts,  and  that  we  must 
not  in  future  shift  ourselves  so  often." 

3rrf. — Had  some  conversation  with  Napoleon  relative  to  the 
governor's  attempt  to  explain  away  the  prohibition  to  speak.  "1 
would,"  said  he,  "give  two  millions  that  those  restrictions  were 
signed  by  the  English  ministry,  in  order  to  show  to  Europe  what 
base,  tyrannical,  and  dishonorable  acts  they  were  capable  of,  and 
the  manner  in  which  they  had  fulfilled  the  promises  they  had 
made  of  treating  me  well.  According  to  law,  this  governor  has 
no  right  to  impose  any  restrictions  upon  me.  The  bill,  illegal 
and  iniquitous  as  it  is,  says  that  I  shall  be  subject  to  such  restric- 
tions as  the  ministers  think  fit  and  necessary,  but  it  does  not  say 
that  they  shall  have  the  power  to  delegate  that  authority  to  any 
other  person,  Therefi)re,  every  restriction  laid  upon  me,  ougnt 
not  only  to  be  signed  by  a  minister,  but,  properly  speaking,  by 
all  the  ministers  assenibled." 

*  Count  iiud  Countess  Bertrand  informed  me  afterwards,  that  Sir  Thomaa 
Keade  had  offered  liis  services  to  the  Countess  for  the  purpose  of  forwarding 
Iheii  letters  to  their  friends  in  Europe  tlirough  the  clianne!  of  Lord  Bathjrut. 
and  had  assured  them  that  sending  tliein  to  him  was  precisely  the  Baino  &s  vf 
they  were  transmitted  direct  to  the  governor. 


1817 — FEBRUARY.  227 

"It  is  possible,"  continued  Napoleon,  "that  part  of  his  bad 
treatment  arises  from  his  imbecility  and  his  fear,  for  he  is  a  man 
wlio  has  no  no  morale.  Uii  poco  di  scaltrezza  e  molto  imbecillta* 
It  is  an  injury  to  his  nation,  and  an  indignity  and  insult  to  the 
Emperor  of  Austria,  to  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  and  to  all  those 
sovereigns  whom  I  have  conquered  and  treated  with. 

"  I  told  Mihdi^''  continued  the  Emperor,  "that  I  had  paid 
your  nation  a  great  compliment,  and  showed  what  a  high  sense  I 
entertained  of  the  English  honor,  by  giving  myself  up  to  them, 
after  so  many  years  war,  in  preference  to  my  father-in-law,  or  to 
my  old  friend.  I  told  her  also  that  the  English  would  have  been 
ray  greatest  friends,  had  1  remained  in  France.  United,  we 
could  have  conquered  the  world.  The  confidence  which  I  placed 
in  the  English  shows  what  an  opinion  I  entertained  of  them,  and 
what  steps  I  would  have  taken  to  have  rendered  such  a  nation 
my  friends:  and  I  should  have  succeeded.  There  is  nothing  that 
I  would  not  have  sacrificed  to  have  been  in  friendship  with  them. 
They  were  the  only  nation  I  esteemed.  As  to  the  Russians, 
Austrians,  and  others,"  said  he,  with  an  expression  of  contempt, 
"  I  had  no  esteem  for  them.  Now  I  am  sorry  to  see  that  1  erred 
in  opinion.  For  had  I  given  myself  up  to  the  Emperor  of  Aus- 
tria, he,  however  he  might  difter  with  me  in  politics,  and  think 
it  necessary  to  dethrone  me,  would  have  embraced  me  closely  as 
a  friend,  and  have  treated  me  with  every  kindness.  So  also 
would  my  old  friend,  the  Emperor  of  Russia.  This  I  told 
Miledi ;  also  that  the  treatment  of  the  Calabrese  to  Murat  was 
humanity  compared  to  it,  as  the  Calabrese  soon  finished  Murat's 
misery,  but  here.  Us  vie  tuent  a  coup  d'epinffles,  (they  kill  me  l)y 
inches.)  I  think  that  your  own  nation  will  feel  very  little 
obliged  to  this  governor  for  having  conferred  upon  it  a  dishonor, 
which  will  be  recorded  in  history.  For  you  are  proud ;  and 
have  the  honor  of  your  nation  more  at  heart  than  even  your 
money.  Witness  the  thousands  that  your  Milords  throw  away 
annually  in  France  and  in  other  parts  of  the  continent,  ti)  raise 
and  exalt  the  English  name.     Many  of  your  nol)ility  and  others 

•  A  little  cuuuing  and  mucli  imbecility.  \ 


228  A    VOICE    FKOM    ST.    HKLENA. 

would  voluntarily  have  subscribed  tln)US!inds,  to  have  prevente<! 
the  stigma  which  this  imbecile  has  brought  upon  your  nation," 

4th. — The  scarcity  of  water  at  L(»ngwuod  has  daily  increased, 
and  the  greatest  part  of  what  has  l)een  brt)ught  up,  sour,  turbid, 
and  uf  a  very  disagreeable  taste,  in  consequence  of  having  been 
ciMiveyed  in  old  wine  and  rum  casks,  which  necessarily  com- 
municate a  sv)ur  and  unpleasant  taste  to  the  water. 

5th. — A  complaint  made  officially  by  Captain  Poppleton  tc 
Colonel  Wynyard  of  the  state  of  the  water.  Cipriani  in  town 
employed  as  usual. 

6th. — Lady  Lowe  paid  a  visit  to  Countess  Bertrand. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  a  long  conversation  with  me  relative  to 
Napoleon  ;  the  purport  of  which  was,  that  if  he  put  the  limits  on 
their  old  footing,  Napoleon  should  not  make  a  practice  of  visit- 
ing the  houses  that  were  situated  in  them,  and  at  the  same  time 
that  he  (Napoleon)  should  not  know  that  any  restriction  existed 
to  prevent  him.  Informed  him  of  some  of  the  sentiments  which 
had  been  expressed  yesterday  by  Napoleon.  His  excellency 
said,  that  there  was  a  great  difference  between  limits  for  exercise 
and  limits  for  correspondence  and  communication  ;  that  if  he 
gave  larger  limits,  they  must  be  subject  to  the  restriction  of  not 
entering  a  house,  unless  accompanied  by  a  British  officer.  I  ob- 
served that  there  were  only  four  houses  within  the  limits  of 
Woody  Range.  Sir  Hudson  said,  that  perhaps  it  might  be 
settled  by  his  giving  General  Bonaparte  a  list  of  such  houses  as 
he  would  permit  him  to  enter.  I  informed  him  that  Napoleon 
had  said  that  if  he  had  a  mind  to  intrigue  with  the  commissioners, 
or  with  others,  he  might  easily  do  so  by  instructing  them  to 
meet  him  within  the  limits  of  the  alarm  house,  which  was  always 
in  his  power  to  effect;  but  that  he  (Napoleon)  would  never  do 
any  thing  which  had  the  appearance  of  an  intrigue.  Sir  Hudson 
replied,  that  "General  Bonaparte  had  never  been  without  intri- 
guing, and  never  would."'  lie  then  desired  me  to  say,  that  he 
daily  expected  a  ship  with  fresh  orders  and  permissii)n  to  grant 
an  extension  of  limits.  That  he  should  have  no  objection  to 
allow  General   Bonaparte  to  enter   into  certain  houses  which  he 


1817 — FEBRUARY.  229 

(Sir  H.)  would  point  out,  nor  indeed   to   send  a  list  of  them  to 
Count  Bertrand. 

Ith. — Communicated  Sir  Hudson  Lowe's  ideas  to  Napoleon. 
"If  he  were  to  give  me  the  whole  of  the  island,  on  condition  that 
1  would  pledge  my  word  not  to  attempt  an  escape,"  replied  h^ 
"1  would  not  accept  of  it,  because  it  would  be  equivalent  to  thfe 
acknowledging  myself  a  prisoner,  although  at  the  same  time,  I 
would  not  make  the  attempt.  I  am  here  by  force,  and  not  by 
right.  If  I  had  been  taken  at  Waterloo,  perhaps  I  might  have 
had  no  hesitation  in  accepting  it,  though  even  in  that  case,  it 
would  be  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations,  as  now  there  is  no  war. 
If  they  were  to  offer  me  permission  to  reside  in  England  on 
similar  conditions,  I  would  refuse  it.  I  do  not  understand  what 
he  means  by  correspondence.  What  is  he  afraid  of?  Perhaps 
the  commissioners.  The  admiral  was  never  afraid  of  his  conduct 
being  published.  I  hope,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  that  you  told 
him  I  said  that  he  had  not  the  right  to  impose  any  restrictions, 
unless  they  were  signed  by  the  ministers."  I  replied,  that  I  had, 
and  that  the  governor  had  said  that  he  had  it  in  his  power  to 
impose  whatever  restrictions  he  thought  necessary.  "  By  the 
bill,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  he  has  not  the  right.  By  the  law  of 
force  he  can  do  what  he  likes,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  English 
parliament  have  passed  a  bill  to  legalize  illegality,  and  to  au- 
thorize a  proscription  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nations,  to  good 
faith,  and  to  their  own  honor.  But  even  in  that,  it  is  not  allowed- 
to  delegate  the  authority." 

After  some  more  observations.  Napoleon  desired  me  to  com 
municate  to  the  governor,  "  that,  if  he  sent  a  list  to  Count  Ber- 
trand, or  told  him  that  within  the  limits  there  were  two  or  more 
houses  which  he  either  suspected  or  was  unwilling  that  I  should 
visit,  I  shall  not  enter  either  them,  or  those  of  the  commissioners. 
If  he  arranges  it  in  this  manner,  it  will  be  understood,  but  if  he 
sent  a  list  of  all  the  houses  in  the  island  except  one,  and  specified 
that  I  might  enter  all  but  that  one,  I  would  not  accept  of  it. 
Whereas,  on  the  contrary,  if  he  made  another  list  of  every 
house  in  the  island  except  one,  and  said  that  he  did  not  wish  me 
to  go   into  any    of  those  mentioned  in   that  list,  and  made  no 


280  A    VOICE    FltOM    ST.    HELENA. 

observation  ;il>oiit  the  reimiiiiiiig  one,  I  would  sooner  accept  of  it 
than  of  the  first,  though  I  could  only  go  into  one  house,  whereas 
l>y  the  other,  I  could  enter  all  t>n  the  island  excepting  one.  By 
availing  niysilf  of  the  first,  it  would  appear  like  visiting  by  his 
perniissinii,  whereas  the  other  would  seem  to  be  voluntary,  as  in 
consequence  of  nothing  having  been  mentioned,  it  would  be  left 
at  my  option  to  go  in  or  not.  It  would  be  like  a  free  will.  Tell 
him  this,"  continued  he;  'though  I  am  sure  that  it  is  merely 
some  shuffling  trick  on  his  part,  and  will  come  to  nothing." 

"I  think,"  added  Napoleon,  "that  it  is  owing  to  some  small 
remains  of  the  influence  of  my  star,  that  the  English  have  treated 
me  so  ill ;  at  least,  that  this  man  whom  they  have  sent  out  as 
governor,  has  conducted  himself  in  such  an  ***  manner.  At 
least,  posterity  will  revenge  me." 

The  meat  has  been  of  so  bad  a  quality  for  some  days,  that  the 
orderly  officer  has  thought  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  return  it, 
accompanied  with  official  complaints. 

8/A. — Went  to  Plantation  House,  and  comnmnicated  to  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  the  purport  of  the  above  mentioned  conversation. 
His  excellency  replied.  That  by  the  proposed  arrangement,  the 
principal  difficulties  were  removed,  and  that  he  would  speak  to 
Count  Bertrand  about  it.  Cipriani  in  town,  endeavoring  to  pro 
cure  some  good  meat. 

Qth. — Scott,  the  servant,  to  whom  Count  Las  Cases  had  given 
the  letter,  released  from  prison  under  the  following  conditions, 
viz.  :  his  father  to  go  security  for  him,  and  to  forfeit  100/.  if  his 
son  ever  went  out  beyond  the  inclosure  of  the  father's  little 
property. 

\(ith. — Acquainted  Napoleon  that  I  had  communicated  his  de- 
sires to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  had  promised  to  talk  the  matter 
over  with  Count  Bertrand.  Napoleon  replied,  "  You  may  depend 
upon  it  that  it  will  end  in  nothing.  It  is  merely  to  deceive  you. 
He  will  act  as  he  has  done  in  that  affair  with  the  admiral." 

"  Gourgaud,"  added  Napoleon,  "is  stopped  at  Hut's  Gate 
every  day.  The  sentinel  cries  'AaZ/;'  then  the  sergeant  cornea 
out,  and,  after  a  sort  of  consultation  together,  says  '■pass.''  " 

Had  some  conversation  about  Alexandria.     "  Your  ministers, " 


1817— FEBRUARY.  231 

said  he,  "acted  most  unwisely  in  nut  having  retained  pussessiou 
of  Alexandria  ;  for,  if  you  had  kept  it  then,  it  would  now  be  ao 
old  robbery  like  Malta,  and  would  have  remained  with  you 
quietly.  Five  thousand  men  would  be  sufficient  to  garrison  it, 
and  it  would  pay  itself  by  the  great  trade  you  would  have  in 
Egypt  You  could  prohibit  the  introduction  of  all  manuiactures 
except  English,  and  consequently  you  would  have  all  the  com- 
merce of  Egypt,  as  there  is  no  other  seaport  town  in  the  country. 
In  my  opinion,  it  would  be  to  you  an  acquisition  far  preferable 
to  Gibraltar,  or  Malta.  Egypt,  once  in  possession  of  the  French, 
farewell  India  to  the  English.  This  was  one  of  the  grand  pro- 
jects I  aimed  at.  I  know  not  why  you  set  so  great  a  value  upon 
Gibraltar,  as  it  is  a  bad  harbor,  and  costs  an  enormous  sum  of 
money.  From  it  you  cannot  prevent  a  fleet  from  passing  into 
the  Mediterranean.  When  I  was  sovereign  of  France,  I  would 
much  rather  have  seen  Gibraltar  in  your  hands  than  in  those  of 
the  Spaniards  ;  because  your  having  possession  of  it,  always  fed 
the  hatred  of  the  Spaniards  against  you."  I  observed  that  it  had 
been  reported  he  had  intended  to  besiege  it,  and  for  that  purpose 
had  marched  a  great  army  into  Spain  ;  although  others  said  that 
his  object  was  merely  to  get  his  troops  a  footing  in  that  country. 
He  laughed,  and  said,  "  Cest  vrai,  (it  is  true).  Turkey,"  added 
he,  "  must  soon  fall,  and  it  will  be  impossible  to  divide  it  with- 
out allotting  some  portion  to  France,  which  will  be  Egypt.  But, 
if  you  had  kept  Alexandria,  you  would  have  prevented  the 
French  from  obtaining  it,  and  of  ultimately  gaining  possession 
of  India,  which  will  certainly  follow  their  possession  of  Egypt." 

12th. — Found  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  at  Plantation  House,  closeted 
with  Sir  Thomas  Reade.  Had  a  conversation  with  him  after- 
wards in  the  library,  relative  to  the  proposition  which  had  been 
made  to  him  on  the  8th.  His  excellency,  however,  would  not 
understand  that  the  visiting  of  only  such  houses  into  which  en- 
trance had  not  been  prohibited  by  him,  and  abstaining  from 
entering  all  which  were  marked  as  objectionable  in  a  list  made 
by  himself,  was  in  the  end  precisely  the  same  as  the  mode  which 
he  had  suggested  of  only  visiting  certain  houses  that  were  spe- 
cifically named  in  a  list.     He  said,  with  considerable  ill-humor, 


232  A   VOICE    KUDM    ST.    HELENA, 

that  Goiioral  IViiiajiaitf  liad  some  (/<>///»  in  it,  and  lliut  he  'W(  uld 
not  grant  liis  (.'unsi-ni.  1  obsorvod  that  it  was  nitljor  nnfortnnalc 
that  hv  had  desiivd  ine  to  make  miy  proposition  on  thi'  sulijoct 
as  it  might  aH'ord  a  fuundation  for  atiother  charge  of  shutlling. 
His  oxcelloncy  replied  by  desiring  me  to  tell  General  Bonaparte 
as  he  had  done  on  former  occasions,  that  he  might  consider  hinc 
>elf  very  fortunate  in  having  so  good  a  man  to  deal  with,  &c. 

Mrs.  and  Misses  Balcoiube  arrived  at  Long\vt)od.  I  dined 
with  Napoleon  in  company  with  them.  He  was  extremely 
lively  and  chatty,  and  displayed  a  fund  oi' causcrie  (conversation) 
rarely  to  be  met  with.  He  instructed  Miss  Eliza  how  to  play 
at  billiards. 

In  the  evening.  Napoleon  directed  me  for  the  future  not  to 
bring  him  any  more  communications  or  propositions  from  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  without  having  first  asked  the  latter,  what  the 
result  would  be,  provided  he  (Napoleon)  agreed  to  them, 
"  Cent  un  mc/i/ewr,"  said  he,  "  uii  homme  d'' insinuations  comme 
les  petits  ty raits  cVIiulie,  qui  n''a  rien  d^ Anglais,  et  qui  a  la  rage 
de  tourmenier  et  de  tracusser  les  gens,  (he  is  a  liar;  a  man  of  in- 
trigue like  the  little  tyrants  of  Italy  ;  he  has  English  in  him ;  he 
has  a  rage  for  tormenting  and  perplexing  others.) 

Application  made  on  the  10th  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  to  allow 
Cipriani  to  go  down  into  the  valley,  (guarded  by  a  soldier,)  in 
order  to  purchase  sheep  and  vegetables  from  the  farmers,  as  the 
meat  sent  by  the  government  was  not  eatable.  Refused  by  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe.  The  daily  allowance  of  meat,  vegetables,  wines, 
&c.  being  carted  up  in  the  sun  to  Longw^ood,  many  of  the  articles 
are  rendered  unfit  for  use  on  the  road. 

\4.th. — Breakfasted  with  Napoleon,  with  whom  1  had  a  conver- 
sation about  Russia.  "If  Paul  had  lived,"  said  he,  "  there  would 
have  been  a  peace  with  England  in  a  short  time,  as  you  would 
n'  V  have  been  long  able  to  contend  with  the  united  northern 
powers.  1  wrote  to  Paul  to  continue  building  ships,  and  to 
endeavor  to  unite  the  north  against  you ;  not  to  hazard  any 
battles,  as  the  English  would  gain  them,  but  allow  you  to  ex- 
haust yourselves,  and  by  all  means  to  get  a  large  fleet  intc  tke 
Mediterranean." 


1817— FEBRUARY.  283 

Some  conversation  then  took  place  relative  to  the  manner  in 
which  the  British  ministers  had  treated  him,  which  he  asserted  to 
be  much  worse  than  that  which  had  been  practiced  towards 
Queen  Mary. 

"  Mary,"  said  he,  "  was  better  treated.  She  was  permitted 
to  write  to  whom  she  pleased,  and  she  was  confined  in  England, 
which  of  itself  was  every  thing ;  it  appears  that  she  was  perse- 
cuted more  on  account  of  her  religion  by  the  Puritans,  than  from 
any  other  cause."  I  observed  that  Mary  was  accused  of  having 
been  an  accomplice  in  the  murder  of  her  husband.  He  replied, 
"  Of  that  there  is  not  the  smallest  doubt.  She  even  married  his 
murderer  afterwards.  *  *  *  *  employs  the  murderers  of  his 
father.  One  of  them,  O  *  *  *  is  now  his  aid-de-camp.  I  must, 
however,  do  him  the  justice  to  say,  that  at  T  *  *  *  he  observed 
to  me  that  I  paid  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  B  *  *  *,  and 
begged  to  know  my  reasons  for  it  ?  I  answered,  Because  he  is 
your  general,  '  Cependant,^  said  *  *  *^  '  c'est  un  vilain  coquin. 
Cest  lui  qui  a  assassine  mon  pere,  (nevertheless  he  is  a  vile 
scoundrel  ;  it  was  he  who  assassinated  my  father,)  and  policy 
alone  has  obliged,  and  obliges  me  to  employ  him,  although  I 
wish  him  dead,  and  in  a  short  time  will  send  him  about  his  busi- 
ness.' Alexander  and  the  King  of  Prussia,"  continued  he,  "  dined 
with  me  every  day,  and  in  order  to  pay  a  compliment  to  *  *  *, 
I  had  intended,  on  the  day  that  this  conversation  took  place,  to 
have  asked  B  *  *  *  *  to  dinner,  as  being  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  his  army.  This  displeased  *  *  *^  who,  though  he  asked 
B  *  *  *  *  to  his  own  table,  did  not  wish  me  to  do  so,  because 
't  would  have  raised  him  so  high  in  the  eyes  of  the  Russians. 
Paul,"  continued  he,  "  was  murdered  by  B  *  *  *  *,  O  *  *  *, 
P  *  *  *,  and  others.  There  was  a  Cossac,  in  whom  Paul  had 
confidence,  stationed  at  his  door.  The  conspirators  came  up, 
and  demanded  entrance,  p  *  *  *  told  him  who  he  was,  and 
that  he  wanted  to  see  the  Emperor  upon  immediate  business. 
The  faithful  Cossac  refused.  The  conspirators  fell  upon  him, 
and  after  a  desperate  resistance,  overpowered  and  cut  him  to 
pieces.  Paul,  who  was  in  bed,  hearing  the  noise,  got  out  and 
endeavored  to  escape  to  the  empress's  apartments.     Unluckily 


234  A  voiCK  num  st.  iiklkna. 

for  himself,  hf,  in  his  suspicions,  a  day  or  two  before,  had 
ordered  the  door  of  eommunicution  to  be  closed  up.  He  '  len 
went  and  concealed  himself  in  a  press.  Meanwiiile  the  conspi- 
rators broke  open  tlie  door,  and  running  to  the  bed,  perceived 
that  there  was  nobody  in  it  '  We  are  lost,'  they  cried,  'he  haN 
escaped.'  j^  *  *  *^  who  had  more  presence  of  mind  tnan  tho 
rest,  went  to  the  bed,  and  putting  his  hands  under  the  ned- 
clothes  said,  '  The  nest  is  warm,  the  bird  cannot  be  far  off.' 
They  then  began  to  search,  and  finally  dragged  Paul  out  of  his 
hiding-place.  They  presented  him  a  paper  containing  his  abdica- 
tion, which  they  wanted  him  to  sign.  He  refused  at  first,  but 
said  that  he  would  abdicate,  if  they  would  release  him.  They 
then  seized  and  knocked  him  down,  and  tried  to  suffocate  him. 
Paul  made  a  desperate  resistance,  and,  fearful  that  assistance 
might  arrive,  B  *  *  *  *  dispatched  him  by  stamping  his  heel 
into  his  eyes,  and  thus  beating  his  brains  out,  while  the  others 
held  him  down.  Paul,  in  his  struggles  for  life,  once  got  B  *  *  *  *  's 
heel  into  his  mouth,  and  bit  a  piece  out  of  the  skin  of  it." 

I  asked  him  if  he  thought  that  Paul  had  been  mad  1  "  Latterly," 
said  Napoleon.  "I  believe  that  he  was.  At  first,  he  was  strongly 
prejudiced  against  the  revolution,  and  every  person  concerned  in 
it ;  but  afterwards  I  had  rendered  him  reasonable,  and  had 
changed  his  opinions  altogether.  If  Paul  had  lived,  you  would 
have  lost  India  before  now.  An  agreement  was  made  between 
Paul  and  myself  to  invade  it.  I  furnished  the  plan.  I  was  to 
have  sent  thirty  thousand  good  troops.  He  was  to  send  a  similar 
fumber  of  the  best  Russian  soldiers,  and  forty  thousand  Cossacs. 
I  was  to  subscribe  ten  millions,  in  order  to  purchase  camels  and 
the  other  requisites  to  cross  the  desert.  The  King  of  Prussia 
was  to  have  been  applied  to  by  both  of  us  to  grant  a  passage  for 
my  troops  through  his  dominions,  which  would  have  been  im- 
mediately granted.  I  had  at  the  same  time  made  a  demand  to 
the  King  of  Persia  for  a  passage  through  his  country,  which  also 
would  have  been  granted,  though  the  negotiations  were  not 
entirely  concluded,  but  would  have  succeeded,  as  the  Persians 
were  desirous  of  profiting  by  it  themselves.  My  troops  were  to 
have  gone  to  Warsaw,  to  be  joined  by  the  Russians  and  Cossacs, 


1817— FEBRUARY.  236 

and  to  have  marched  from  thence  to  the  Caspian  Sea,  where  they 
would  have  either  embarl^ed,  or  have  proceeded  by  land,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances.  I  was  beforehand  with  you,  in  sending  an 
ambassador  on  to  Persia  to  make  interest  there.  Since  that 
time,  your  ministers  have  been  imbeciles  enough  to  allow  the 
Russians  to  get  four  provinces,  which  increase  their  territories 
beyond  the  mountains.  The  first  year  of  war  that  you  will  havt 
with  the  Russians,  they  will  take  India  from  you." 

I  asked,  then,  if  it  were  true  that  Alexander  had  intended  to 
have  seized  upon  Turkey  ?  Napoleon  answered,  "All  his  thoughts 
are  directed  to  the  conquest  of  Turkey.  We  have  had  many 
discussions  together  about  it;  at  first,  I  was  pleased  with  his 
proposals,  because  I  thought  it  would  enlighten  the  world  to 
drive  those  brutes,  the  Turks,  out  of  Europe.  But  when  I  re- 
flected upon  the  consequences,  and  saw  what  a  tremendous  weight 
of  power  it  would  give  to  Russia,  in  consequence  of  the  numbers 
of  Greeks  in  the  Turkish  dominions,  who  would  naturally  join 
the  Russians,  I  refused  to  consent  to  it,  especially  as  Alexander 
wanted  to  get  Constantinople,  which  I  would  not  allow,  as  it 
would  have  destroyed  the  equilibrium  of  power  in  Europe.  I 
reflected  that  France  would  gain  Egypt,  Syria,  and  the  islands, 
which  would  have  been  nothing  in  comparison  with  what  Russia 
would  have  obtained.  I  considered  that  the  barbarians  of  the 
north  were  already  too  powerful,  and  probably  in  the  course  of 
time  would  overwhelm  all  Europe,  as  I  now  think  they  will. 
Austria  already  trembles,  Russia  and  Prussia  united,  Austria 
falls,  and  England  cannot  prevent  it.  France  under  the  present 
family  is  nothing,  and  the  Austrians  are  so  laches^  (weak,)  that 
they  will  be  easily  overpowered.  Una  nazione  a  colpo  di  haslone* 
They  will  offer  little  resistance  to  the  Russians,  who  are  brave 
and  patient.  Russia  is  the  more  formidable,  because  she  can 
never  disarm.  In  Russia,  once  a  soldier,  always  a  soldier.  Bar- 
barians, who,  one  may  say,  have  no  country,  and  to  whom  every 
country  is  better  than  the  one  which  gave  them  l)irth.  When 
the  Cossacs  entered  France,  it  was  indiirorent  to  them  what 
women  they  violated,  old  or  young  were  alike  to  them,  as  any 

*  Means  n  nation  tlwt  may  ho  ruled  by  blows. 


286  A    VOICE    FROM   ST.    HKLKNA. 

wore  proffrablo  to  tlioso  they  had  left  l)thiiul.  Moreover,  the 
Russians  are  poor,  and  it  is  necessary  fur  them  to  ccjnquer. 
When  I  am  dead  and  gone,  my  memory  will  be  esteemed,  and  I 
shall  be  revered  in  euiisequencc  of  having  foreseen,  and  endeavor- 
ed to  ptit  a  stop  tt),  that  which  will  yet  take  place.  It  will  be 
revered  when  the  barbarians  of  the  north  will  possess  Europt 
which  would  not  have  happened,  had  it  not  l)een  for  you,  signort 
Jtifflesi"  (English  gentlemen.) 

Napoleon  expressed  great  anxiety  relative  to  Count  Mon 
tholon,  as  the  governor  had  made  some  insinuations  that  hij 
removal  was  in  contemplation.  "  I  should  feel,"  continued  he, 
"  the  loss  of  Montholon  most  sensibly  ;  as,  independent  of  his 
attachment  to  me,  he  is  most  useful,  and  endeavors  to  anticipate 
all  my  wants.  I  know  that  it  would  grieve  him  much  to  leave 
me,  though  in  truth  it  would  render  him  a  great  service  if  he 
were  removed  from  this  desolate  place  and  restored  to  the  bosom 
of  his  friends,  as  he  is  not  proscribed,  and  has  nothing  to  fear  in 
France.  ^Moreover,  being  of  a  noble  family,  he  might  readily 
find  favor  with  the  Bourbons  if  he  chose." 

Accompanied  Countess  Montholon  to  Plantation  House,  to  pay 
a  visit  to  Lady  Lowe.  Saw  Sir  Hudson,  who  said  that  "  he  would 
not  place  any  confidence  in  the  assurances  of  General  Bonaparte, 
and  was  determined  that  he  should  not  enter  any  house  unac- 
companied by  a  British  officer."  Some  discussion  then  took 
place,  relative  to  the  passes  which  his  excellency  had  formerly 
given  to  persons  who  were  desirous  to  visit  Longwood.  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe  wished  to  persuade  me  that  he  had  never  given  a 
pass  for  one  day  only,*  and  that  Major  Gorrequer  could  testify 
to  the  truth  of  that.  I  remarked  that  several  persons  to  whom 
he  had  granted  passes,  had  shown  them  to  Count  Bertrand  at 
Hut's  Gate,  and  pointed  out  to  him,  that  on  the  pass  itself  the 
day  had  been  specified,  and  on  that  account  they  had  begged  of 
Bertrand  to  exert  himself,  in  order  to  induce  Napoleon  to  see 
them,  as  their  passes  were  null  after  that  day.  Sir  Hudson 
angrily  replied  that  "  they  were  liars." 

*  This  was  a  matter  of  public  notoriety,  both  at  St.  Helena  and  amongst  th» 
passengers  to  and  from  England. 


isi*? — February.  237 

Before  my  departure,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  told  me  thai  I  might 
take  some  of  the  numbers  of  the  Ambigu  to  Longwood,  and 
show  them  to  General  Bonaparte. 

On  my  return,  informed  Napoleon  that  I  had  received  some 
numbers  of  a  periodical  work  called  V Ambigu,  which,  I  added, 
were  extremely  abusive  of  him.  He  laughed,  and  said,  "  Chil- 
dren only  care  for  abuse ;"  and  then  desired  me  to  bring  them  to 
him.  When  he  saw  them,  he  said,  "  Ah  !  Peltier  :  he  has  been 
libeling  me  these  twenty  years.  But  I  am  very  glad  to  get 
them." 

Countess  Montholon,  Mrs.  and  Miss  Balcombes,  passed  an 
hour  in  conversation  with  Napoleon  after  dinner  yesterday. 

Cipriani  in  town,  employed  as  customary. 

Xlth. — Napoleon  observed  that  he  found  Peltier's  Ambigu 
very  interesting,  though  it  contained  many  falsehoods  and  betises, 
(impertinences).  "  I  have  been  reading,"  continued  he,  "  the 
account  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo  contained  in  it,  which  is  nearly 
correct.  I  have  been  considering  who  could  have  been  the  author. 
It  must  have  been  some  person  about  me.  Had  it  not  been  for 
the  imbecility  of  Grouchy,"  added  he,  "  I  should  have  gained 
that  day." 

I  asked  him  if  he  thought  that  Grouchy  had  betrayed  him 
intentionally.  "  No,  no,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  but  there  was  a 
want  of  energy  on  his  part.  There  was  also  treason  amongst 
the  staff.  I  believe  that  some  of  the  staff  officers  whom  I  had 
sent  to  Grouchy  betrayed  me,  and  went  over  to  the  enemy.  Of 
this,  however,  I  am  not  certain,  as  I  have  never  seen  Grouchy 
since." 

I  asked  if  he  had  thought  Marshal  Soult  to  have  been  in  his 
interest.  Napoleon  answered,  "  Certainly,  I  considered  so.  But 
Soult  did  not  betray  Louis,  as  has  been  supposed,  nor  was  he 
privy  to  my  return  and  landing  in  France.  For  some  days 
Soult  thought  that  I  was  mad,  and  that  1  must  certainly  be  lost. 
Notwithstanding  this,  appearances  were  so  much  against  Soult, 
and,  without  intending  it,  his  acts  turned  out  to  be  so  favorable, 
to  my  projects,  that,  were  I  on  his  jury,  and  ignorant  of  what  I 
know,  I  should  condemn  him  for  having  betrayed  Louis.     But 


288  A   VOICK    KHOM   ST.    HKI-ENA. 

ho  ii-ally  was  not  privy  to  it,  tln»>iuli  Nr} ,  in  his  dofi'iice,  stated 
tluit  1  told  him  so.  As  to  the  pruclamatioii  wliirh  Ney  said  that 
I  had  sent  to  him,  it  is  not  true.  I  sent  him  nothing  but  orders. 
I  would  have  stojiped  the  proelaination,  had  it  ])een  in  my  jh wer, 
as  it  was  unworthy  of  me,  Ney  was  deficient  in  education,  or 
he  would  not  have  published  it,  or  indeed  have  acted  as  he  did. 
For  when  he  promised  the  king  to  bring  me  back  in  an  iron  cage, 
he  was  sincere,  and  really  meant  what  he  said,  and  continued  so 
until  two  days  before  he  actually  joined  me.  lie  ought  to  have 
acted  like  Oudinot,  who  asked  his  troops  if  they  might  be 
depended  upon,  to  which  they  unanimously  replied, 'We  will 
not  fight  against  the  emperor,  nor  for  the  Bourbons,'  He  could 
not  prevent  the  troops  from  joining  me,  nor  indeed  the  peasants, 
but  he  went  too  far." 

"  Mouton  Duvernet,"  said  he,  "  suffered  unjustly,  at  least  con. 
sidering  all  circumstances,  he  did  not  deserve  it  more  than 
another.  He  hung  upon  the  flanks  of  my  little  army  for  two 
days,  and  his  intentions  were  for  the  king.  But  every  one  joined 
me.  The  enthusiasm  was  astonishing.  I  might  have  entered 
Paris  with  four  hundred  thousand  men,  if  1  had  liked.  What  is 
still  more  surprising,  and  I  believe  unparalleled  in  history,  is, 
that  it  was  eflfected  without  any  conspiracy.  There  was  no 
plot,  no  understanding  with  any  of  the  generals  in  France. 
Not  one  of  them  knew  my  intentions.  In  my  proclamation 
consisted  the  whole  of  my  conspiracy.  With  them  I  effected 
every  thing.  With  them  I  led  the  nation.  Not  even  Mas- 
sena  knew  of  my  intention.  When  he  was  informed  of  my 
laving  landed  with  a  few  hundred  men,  he  disbelieved  it,  and 
pronounced  it  impossible,  thinking  that  if  I  had  entertained  such 
a  project  I  should  have  made  him  acquainted  with  it.  The 
Bourbons  want  to  make  it  appear  that  a  conspiracy  existed  in 
the  army,  which  is  the  reason  they  have  shot  Mouton  Duvernet, 
Ney  and  others,  because  my  having  effected  what  I  did,  not  by 
the  aid  of  a  conspiracy,  or  by  force,  as  not  a  musket  was  fired, 
but  by  the  general  wish  of  the  nation,  reflects  such  disgrace  upon 
them." 

"There  never  was  yet,"  continued  Napoleon,  '-a   king  wlic 


1817 — FEBRUARY.  23J) 

Uras  more  the  sovereign  of  the  people  than  I  was.  If  I  were  not 
possessed  of  the  smallest  talent,  I  could  reign  easier  in  Franco 
than  Louis  and  the  Bourbons,  endowed  with  the  greatest  abilities. 
The  mass  of  the  French  nation  hate  the  old  nobles  and  the 
priests.  I  have  not  sprung  from  the  ancienne  noblesse  (ancient 
nobility),  nor  have  I  ever  too  much  encouraged  the  priests. 
The  French  nation  have  predominant  in  them,  la  vanita^  la  legje- 
rezza,  Vindependenza,  ed  il  capriccio*  with  an  unconquerable 
passion  for  glory.  They  will  as  soon  do  without  bread  as  with- 
out glory  ;  and  a  proclamation  will  lead  them  {les  entrainer), 
Unlike  England,  where  the  inhabitants  of  a  whole  country  may 
be  inflamed  by,  and  will  follow  the  opinion  of  two  or  three  noble 
families,  they  must  be  themselves  courted." 

"  Some  young  and  ignorant  peasants,"  continued  Napoleon, 
•'  who  were  born  since  the  revolution,  were  conversing  with  some 
older  and  better  informed  men  about  the  Bourbons,  '  Who  are 
those  Bourbons?'  said  one.  'What  are  they  like?'  'Why,' 
replied  one  of  the  older  men,  '  they  are  like  that  old  ruined  cha- 
teau, which  you  see  near  our  village ;  like  it,  their  time  is  past 
and  gone,  they  are  no  longer  of  the  age.'  " 

"  The  Bourbons  will  find,"  added  he,  "  that  their  caressing  the 
marshals  and  generals  will  not  answer.  They  must  caress  the 
people.  To  the7n  they  must  address  themselves.  Unless  they 
adopt  some  measures  to  render  themselves  popular,  you  will  see 
a  terrible  explosion  burst  forth  in  France.  The  nation  will 
never  bear  to  live  debased  and  humiliated  as  it  is  at  present. 
When  I  hear  of  a  nation  living  without  bread,  then  I  will  believe 
that  the  French  will  exist  without  glory." 

"At  Waterloo  not  a  single  soldier  betrayed  me.  Whatever 
treason  there  was,  existed  among  the  generals,  and  not  among 
the  soldiers  or  the  regimental  officers  ;  these  hist  were  acquainted 
with  each  other's  sentiments,  and  purged  themselves  by  turning 
out  such  as  they  suspected." 

"Your  nation,"  continued  Napoleon,  "is  chiefly  guided  by 
interest  in  all  its  actions.  I  have  found  since  I  have  fallen  into 
your  hands,  that  you  have  no  more  liberty  than  other  countriea, 

*  Vuiiity,  levity,  iiidepeiuloiicc  ami  caprico. 


240  A  Voice  fhom  sr.  helkna. 

I  luivi-  paid  doarly  for  the  ronmiilif  luul  tliivalrous  opinion  which 
1  had  tortnod  of  you." 

Heri>  I  ropeatcd  nearly  what  I  had  said  upon  former  occasions. 
Napoleon  shook  his  head,  and  replied,  "  1  recollect  that  Paoli. 
who  was  a  great  friend  to  your  nation,  in  fact  who  was  almost 
an  Englishman,  said,  on  hearing  the  English  extolled  as  the  most 
generous,  the  most  liberal,  and  the  most  unprejudiced  nation  on 
earth,  'Suftly,  you  go  too  far;  they  are  not  so  generous  nor  so 
unprejudiced  as  you  imagine;  they  are  very  self-interested;  they 
are  a  nation  of  merchants,  and  generally  have  gain  in  view. 
Whenever  they  do  anything,  they  always  calculate  what  profit 
they  shall  derive  from  it.  They  are  the  most  calculating  people 
in  existence.'  This  Paoli  said,  not  without  at  the  same  time 
having  given  you  credit  for  the  good  national  qualities  which 
you  really  possess.     Now  I  believe  that  Paoli  was  right." 

Napoleon  then  made  some  remarks  upon  Longwood,  expressed 
his  surprise  that  some  person  had  not  made  a  contract  to  bring  a 
supply  of  water  to  it  and  to  the  camp  ;  stipulating  that  he  should 
be  permitted  to  establish  a  garden  in  the  valley,  by  means  of 
which  a  sufficiency  of  vegetables  might  be  produced  at  a  cheap 
rate,  not  only  for  Longwood  and  the  camp,  but  also  for  the  ships. 
"  Here,"  continued  he,  "  if  water  were  brought  by  a  conduit, 
Novarre,  with  the  help  of  two  or  three  Chinese,  would  produce  a 
sufficiency  of  the  vegetables  which  we  so  much  w'ant.  How 
preferable  would  it  be  to  dispose  of  the  public  money  in  conduct- 
ing water  to  those  poor  soldiers  in  camp,  than  in  digging  of 
ditches  and  throwing  up  fortifications  round  this  house,  just  as  if 
an  arrny  were  coming  to  attack  it.  A  man  who  has  no  regard 
for  his  soldiers  ought  never  to  have  a  command.  The  greatest 
necessity  of  the  soldier  is  water." 

Sir  Thomas  Reade  made  a  long  harangue  this  djiy,  upon  the 
"  impropriety  of  allowing  Bonaparte  any  newspapers,  unless 
such  as  had  been  previously  inspected  by  the  governor." 

\bth. — Saw  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  at  Plantation  House.  Found 
him  busied  in  examining  some  newspapers  for  Longwood,  several 
of  which  he  put  aside,  as  not  being,  in  his  opinion,  proper  to  be 
sent   to    Napoleon,  observing   to  me,  at  the  same  time,  "that 


1817 — FEBRUARY.  241 

however  strange  it  might  appear,  General  Bonaparte  ought  to  be 
obliged  to  him  for  not  sending  him  newspapers  indiscriminately, 
as  the  perusal  of  articles  written  in  his  own  favor  might  excite 
hopes  which,  when  not  ultimately  realized,  could  not  fail  to 
afflict  him ;  that  moreover,  the  British  government  thought  it 
improper  to  let  him  know  everything  that  appeared  in  the  news- 
papers. 

19th. — Sir  Thomas  Reade  very  busy  in  circulating  reports  in 
the  town  that  "  General  Bonaparte  was  sulky,  and  would  see 
nobody  :  that  the  governor  was  too  good,  and  that  the  villain 
ought  to  be  put  in  chains." 

21st. — The  David  transport  brought  the  news  of  the  arrival  of 
the  Adolphus  at  the  Cape,  laden  chiefly  with  iron  rails,  to  sur- 
round Napoleon's  house,  for  which  the  governor  had  sent  to 
England. 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  came  up  to  Longwood  and  inspected  the 
works  throwing  up  about  the  stables,  and  the  sentinels  that  he 
had  placed.  Held  a  long  conversation  with  me  afterwards  about 
the  restrictions  and  limits,  without  coming  to  any  determination. 

After  having  observed  that  I  was  responsible  in  some  degree 
to  ministers  for  any  unfavorable  impressions  which  might  exist 
upon  Napoleon's  mind,  his  excellency  proceeded  to  catechise  me 
relative  to  my  conversations  with  him.  I  hinted  to  him  the  pe- 
culiar delicacy  of  my  situation,  and  the  impropriety  and  indeed 
impossibility  that  existed  of  my  making  the  disclosures  which  he 
required.  Sir  Hudson  said,  "That  he  admitted  the  jjeculiar  deli- 
cacy of  my  situation,  but  at  the  same  time  that  I  ought  to  make 
a  full  and  ample  disclosure  to  him,  and  to  him  only,  of  the  lan- 
guage made  use  of  by  General  Bonaparte,  especially  of  any 
abusive  epithets.  That  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  know  every- 
thing that  passed.  That  for  a  man,  who  had  so  much  intercourse 
with  General  Bona[iarte,  he  thought  I  was  less  influenced  by  him 
than  ninety-nine  out  of  a  hundred  would  have  been.  That  my 
situation  was  of  great  importance,  and  one  in  which  I  could  len- 
der great  services.  That  absolute  silence  as  to  what  was  going 
on,  except  to  him,  was  imperatively  necessary,  and  indeed  the 
chief  requisite." 

a 


242  A   VOICE    FKOM    ST.    IIKLENA. 

His  e.xoolk'iK'y  then  told  me,  in  order,  as  he  said,  to  show  the 
g.K>d  opinion  that  he  entertained  of  me,  that  "he  had  no  senijile 
in  iiiA>rming  me,  that  tiie  commissioners  were  to  be  looked  upon 
with  great  suspicion;  that  they  were  in  fact  spies  upon  every- 
body and  ujton  everything,  and  only  wanted  to  ])ick  something 
out  of  me  in  order  to  send  it  to  their  courts;  that  I  had  better 
be  Very  cautious,  as  in  all  prol)al)ility  they  would  report  to  their 
employers  everything  that  I  had  said,  as  they  had  already  done 
to  him  ;  in  proof  of  which  he  repeated  to  me  the  tenor  of  the 
conversation  which  I  had  held  with  Baron  Sturmcr  at  Plantation 
House  on  the  21st  of  October,  181G,  adding  his  satisfaction  of 
having  found  that  1  had  been  cautious  in  my  reniarks.  He  also 
said  that  he  had  written  to  Lord  Bathurst  in  very  favorable  terms 
about  me,  and  had  recommended  that  my  salary  should  be  aug- 
mented to  500/.  per  annum." 

After  this  his  excellency  acquainted  me  that  he  had  received  a 
'etter  from  young  Las  Cases  for  me,  which  he  would  send. 

In  the  evening,  I  received  the  above  mentioned  letter,  under  an 
inclosure,  containing  one  to  General  Gourgaud  from  his  mother, 
as  Sir  Hudson  described  it  in  his  note,  which  I  was  directed  to 
deliver  to  him. 

24:th. — Mr.  Vernon  came  up  to  Longwood  to  ondoyer  (baptize) 
Count  Bertrand's  child.  Napoleon  played  at  billiards  in  the 
evening. 

25f^. — Cipriani  in  town,  purchasing  provisions. 

28<A. — Napoleon  had  very  little  rest  during  the  night.  Got 
jp  at  five  o'clock,  and  walked  about  in  the  billiard-room  for  some 
time.  Found  him  lying  on  his  sofa.  Looked  low,  and  out  of 
spirits.  Saluted  me  with  a  faint  voice.  Gave  him  a  Portsmouth 
paper  of  the  18th  of  November  last.  On  reading  some  rf  marks 
made  about  the  injury  that  was  likely  to  accrue  to  the  French 
interest  by  the  marriage  of  the  Emperor  of  Austria  and  the  Prin- 
cess of  Bavaria,  together  with  an  observation  that  he.  Napoleon, 
had  prevented  it  even  when  in  the  plentitude  of  his  power  ;  Na- 
poleon said,  "  C^est  vrai,  I  was  appjehensive  of  the  consequences 
of  the  alliance  between  the  two  houses.  But  what  signifies  it 
DOW?     Under  the  Bourbons,  France  will   never  be  a  first-rate 


1811 — FEBRUARY.  243 

power.  There  is  no  occasion  to  be  afraid  of  her,  as  she  wil] 
always  be  an  inferior  power  under  that  house  of  blockheads." 

Adverting  to  the  commercial  distress  of  England,  he  observed 
that  Lord  Castlereagh  deserved  the  reprobation  of  the  English 
nation  for  the  little  care  which  he  had  taken  of  their  interests  at 
the  time  of  the  general  peace.  "  The  misfortunes  which  befel 
me,"  said  he,  "  gave  such  an  ascendancy  to  England,  that  almost 
any  demand  made  by  her  would  have  been  granted;  independent 
of  the  right  which  she  had  to  claim  a  recompense  for  the  vast  ex- 
pense which  she  had  been  at.  An  opportunity  offered  itself, 
w^hich  probably  will  never  occur  again,  fur  England  to  recover 
and  extricate  herself  from  all  her  difficulties  in  a  few  years,  and 
to  relieve  her  from  the  immense  load  of  debt  which  weighs  her 
down.  Had  Castlereagh  been  really  attentive  to  the  interests 
of  his  own  country,  he  would  have  embraced  at  an  early  period 
the  only  opportunity  that  had  been  presented  to  him  to  secure 
such  commercial  advantages  to  England  as  would  have  relieved 
her  from  her  embarrassments.  But,  instead  of  this,  he  only 
attended  to  paying  his  court  to  kings  and  emperors,  who  flattered 
his  vanity  by  taking  notice  of  him  ;  well  knowing  that  in  doing 
so,  they  gained  the  great  point  of  making  him  neglect  his  coun- 
try's interests,  and  consequently  benefited  their  own.  He  was 
completely  duped,  and  will  yet  be  cursed  by  your  nation." 

"  I  see  no  other  way  now,"  continued  he,  "  to  extricate  you 
from  your  difiiculties,  than  by  reducing  the  interest  of  the 
national  debt,  confiscating  the  greatest  part  of  the  revenues  of 
the  clergy,  all  the  sinecures,  diminishing  considerably  the  army, 
and  establishing  a  system  of  reduction  altogether.  Let  those 
who  want  priests,  pay  them.  Your  sinking  fund  is  a  humbug. 
Impose  a  heavy  tax  upon  absentees.  It  is  too  late  now  for  you 
to  make  commercial  treaties.  What  would  (/wn  have  been  con- 
sidered as  only  just  and  reasonable  would  now  be  thought  far 
different.  The  opportunity  is  gone,  and  the  nation  is  indebted 
to  your  imbeciles  of  ministers  for  all  the  calamities  which  will 
befall  it,  and  which  are  solely  to  be  attributed  to  their  crimina] 
neglect," 


244  A   VOICE    FROM    ST.    HKI.ENA. 

"  I  undorstanil,"  said  lie,  "  tlmt  the  botanist*  is  on  the  eve  of 
departure,  without  having  seen  nie.  In  the  most  barbarous 
countries,  it  would  not  be  prohibited  even  to  a  prisoner,  under 
sentenee  of  death,  to  have  the  consolation  of  conversing  with  a 
person  who  had  lately  seen  his  wife  and  child.  Even  in  that 
worst  of  courts,  the  revolutionary  tribunal  of  France,  s\iili  an  in 
stance  of  barbarity  and  of  callousness  to  all  feeling  was  never 
known  ;  and  your  nation,  which  is  so  much  cried  up  for  liberality, 
permits  such  treatment.  I  am  informed  that  this  botanist  has 
made  application  to  see  me,  which  was  refused ;  and  in  my  letter 
to  Las  Cases,  which  was  read  by  the  governor,  1  complained  of 
it  as  a  hardship,  and  thereby  made  application  to  see  him.  if  1 
had  asked  it  in  any  other  manner,  1  should  have  exposed  myself 
to  the  insult  of  a  refusal  from  this  bourreau,  (hangman.)  C^esl 
le  comble  de  la  crumite.\  lie  must  indeed  be  a  barbarian  who 
would  deny  to  a  husband  and  a  father  the  consolation  of  dis- 
coursing with  a  person  who  had  lately  seen,  spoken  to,  and 
touched  his  wife,  his  child,"  (here  Napoleon's  voice  faltered ;) 
"  from  whose  embraces  he  is  for  ever  separated  by  the  cruel 
policy  of  a  few.  The  Anthropophagi  of  the  South  Seas  would  not 
practice  it.  Previous  to  devouring  their  victims,  they  would 
allow  them  the  consolation  of  seeing  and  conversing  with  each 
other.  The  cruelties  which  are  practiced  here  would  be  dis- 
avowed by  cannibals." 

Napoleon  now  walked  up  and  down  for  some  time,  much 
agitated.  Afterwards  he  proceeded,  "  You  see  the  manner  in 
which  he  endeavors  to  impose  upon  the  passengers  going  to  Eng- 
land, in  order  to  make  them  believe  that  he  is  all  goodness  to 
me,  and  that  it  is  all  my  own  fault  if  1  do  not  receive  strangers. 
That  he  interests  himself  so  far  as  even  to  send  up  his  own  aid 
de-camp  to  effect  it,  though  he  well  knows  this  last  circumstance 
would  of  itself  be  sufficient  to  prevent  my  receiving  the  person 
whom  he  accompanied.     His  object  now  is  to  impress  upon  the 

*  Napoleon  had  been  informed,  and  I  believe  with  truth,  that  this  gentleman 
had  seen  and  conversed  with  the  em[)res8  and  her  eon  a  short  time  before  h« 
had  left  Germany  for  St.  Helena. 

t  It  is  the  heigh*,  of  cruelty. 


1817 — FEBRUARY.  246 

minds  of  tne  public  that  I  hate  the  sight  of  an  Englishman.  That 
is  the  reason  he  desired  you  to  tell  me  that  Las  Cases  had  made 
me  say  that  I  abhorred  the  sight  of  the  English  uniform." 

I  observed  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  also  told  me  that  he 
conceived  it  to  be  an  invention  of  Las  Cases.  "  It  is  an  invention 
of  his  own,"  replied  the  emperor,  "in  order  to  impose  upon  you. 
If  I  had  hated  the  English,  should  I  have  given  myself  up  to 
them,  instead  of  going  to  the  emperor  of  Russia,  or  of  Austria? 
Is  it  possible  that  I  could  have  given  a  greater  proof  of  esteem 
for  a  nation,  than  that  which  I  have  done  for  the  English,  un- 
fortunately for  myself?" 

Napoleon  now  opened  the  door,  called  St.  Denis,  and  in  my 
presence  asked  him  if  in  Las  Cases'  journal,  it  was  asserted  that 
he  (Napoleon)  had  ever  said  that  he  hated  the  sight  of  the 
English  uniform,  or  the  English,  or  words  of  a  similar  tendency 
and  meaning  1  St.  Denis  replied,  that  nothing  of  the  kind  was 
contained  in  the  journal.  "  There,"  said  Napoleon,  "  if  Las 
Cases  had  said  so,  it  would  have  been  in  his  journal.  He  must 
be  wicked  who  would  torment  me  under  the  circumstances  in 
which  I  am  placed.  He  has  got  nothing  here,"  continued  Na- 
poleon, placing  his  hand  over  his  heart,  "and  when  there  is 
nothing  here,  the  head  must  be  bad  :  he  is  a  man  unfit  to  com- 
mand, or  to  act  for  himself.  Nature  in  forming  some  men,  in- 
tended that  they  should  always  remain  in  a  subaltern  situation. 
Such  was  Berthier.  There  was  not  in  the  world  so  good  a  chef 
(Telat  major ;  but  change  his  occupation,  he  was  not  fit  to  com- 
mand five  hundred  men.  A  good  scribbler,  like  this  man,  an 
excellent  cornmis.  You  may  see  how  unfit  for  command  he  is, 
when  he  allows  himself  to  be  led  by  the  nose  by  such  a  2ontemp- 
tible  imbecile  as  that  Colonel  Keade.  Have  you  ever  read  Gil 
Blasf  I  replied  that  I  had.  "That  elernal  smile  on  Reade's 
lips,"  rt^oined  Napoleon,  "is  not  natui'al,  and  reminds  me  of 
Ambrose  de  Lamela.  Like  Lamela's  going  to  church  while  he 
was  plotting  to  rob  his  master,  it  masks  his  real  intentions.  I 
have  been  informed,"  continued  he,  "  that  the  Balcombes  were 
interrogated  and  cross-examined  both  by  the  governor  and  by  his 
privy  counsellor,  Reade,  touching  what  they  had  heard  and  seen 


246  A    VC»K'K    FKOM    M.    IIKLKNA. 

at  LoiigAood,  ami  that  tin.'  fatlRT  rij>liiil,  tliat  liis  daughtors  had 
come  hero  to  have  thi'  honor  of  visiting  us,  ami  nol  as  sj)ic!s." 

March  \st. — Napolooii  ctnivoiM'd  with  iiu'  tor  soiiu'  time  re- 
lative to  the  iron  railing  said  to  have  been  brought  out  in  the 
Adi'lphus.  1  told  him  that  it  was  customary  in  Eiiglan<i  to  put 
rails  round  the  country  houses  of  gentlemen,  at  v\  hieh  he  jcjoked 
rather  incredulous. 

2/j(/. — Saw  Napoleon  in  his  dressing-room,  lying  on  his  stjfa. 
lie  was  rather  low  spirited,  looked  pale,  and  complained  of 
diarrhceji.  Of  the  remedies  which  1  advised,  he  would  only 
consent  to  take  freely  of  weak  ehieken-broth,  or  barley-water. 

During  the  course  of  conversation,  he  oijserved  that  he  saw  a 
ehange  in  the  system  of  the  Bourbons  favorable  to  them,  as, 
instead  of  employing  the  ultra  faction,  and  other  violent  charac- 
ters, they  had  appointed  men  who  had  been  formerly  employed 
by  him,  and  who  had  the  confidence  of  the  nation.  Amongst 
others,  he  mentioned  Mole. 

Asked  Napoleon  whether  the  statement  contained  in  the  Ob- 
server relative  to  Clarke's  conduct  towards  Carnot,  in  having 
withheld  his  pension,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  himself  was 
reported  to  have  acted,  were  true.  Napoleon  replied,  "  It  is  per- 
fectly true.  But  I  was  surprised  to  see  the  papers  occupied  so 
much  about  Clarke,  who  is  not  of  sufficient  importance  for  people 
to  trouble  themselves  about  him."  I  asked  his  opinion  of 
Clarke.  He  replied,  "  He  is  not  a  man  of  talent,  but  he  is  labo- 
rious and  useful  in  the  bureau,  (office.)  He  is,  moreover,  incor- 
ruptible, and  saving  of  the  public  money,  which  he  never  has 
appropriated  to  his  own  use.  He  is  an  excellent  redacieur,  (com- 
piler.) He  is  not  a  soldier,  however,  nor  do  I  believe  that  he 
ever  saw  a  shot  fired  in  his  life.  He  is  infatuated  with  his 
nobility.  He  pretends  that  he  is  descended  from  the  ancient 
kings  of  Scotland,  or  Ireland,  and  constantly  vaunts  of  his  noble 
descent.  A  good  clerk.  I  sent  him  to  Florence  as  ambassador, 
where  he  employed  himself  in  nothing  but  turning  over  the  old 
musty  records  of  the  place,  in  search  of  proofs  of  the  nobility  of 
my  family,  for  you  must  know  that  they  came  from  Florence. 
He  plagued  me  with  letters  upon  this  subject,  which  caused  me 


1811 — MARCH.  247 

to  write  to  him  to  attend  to  the  business  for  which  he  had  been 
sent  to  Florence,  and  not  to  trouble  his  head  or  mine  with  hia 
nonsense  about  nobility  ;  that  I  was  the  Jirsi  of  my  family. 
Notwithstanding  this,  he  still  continued  his  inquiries.  When  I 
returned  from  Elba,  he  offered  his  services  to  me,  but  I  sent  him 
word  that  I  would  not  employ  any  traitors,  and  ordered  him  to 
his  estates."  I  asked  if  he  thought  that  Clarke  would  havt. 
served  him  faithfully.  "Yes,"  replied  the  emperor,  "as  long  as 
I  was  the  strongest,  like  a  great  many  others."  I  inquired  if  it 
were  true  that  he  had  written  the  letter  which  had  been  attri- 
buted to  him,  announcing  to  Clarke  the  death  of  his  nephew  1 
He  replied,  that  he  had,  and  that  his  name  was  Ellit)t. 

I  observed  that  his  ancestors  were  noble.  He  replied,  they 
were  senators  of  Florence. 

Napoleon  then  observed,  "  In  the  papers,  they  make  me  serve 
for  all  purposes,  and  say  whatever  suits  their  views.  Lord 
Castlereagh,  on  his  return  to  Ireland,  publicly  asserted  a  false- 
hood relative  to  what  had  been  my  intentions  upon  England,  and 
put  expressions  into  my  mouth  since  my  arrival  here,  which  I 
never  made  use  of"  I  observed,  that  in  all  probability  Lord 
Castlereagh  had  been  informed  that  he  had  said  so.  He  replied, 
"  It  may  be,  but  your  ministers  have  little  scruple  in  having  re- 
course to  falsehood  when  they  think  it  will  forward  any  object 
they  have  in  view.  It  is,"  continued  he,  "always  dishonorable 
and  base  to  belie  the  unfortunate,  and  doubly  so  when  in  your 
power,  and  when  you  hold  a  padlock  upon  the  mouth  to  prevent 
a  reply." 

Srd. — Saw  Napoleon  dressing.  Free  from  any  complaint. 
In  very  high  spirits.  Laughed  and  quizzed  me  about  some 
young  ladies,  and  asked  me  to  give  all  the  little  news  of  the 
town.  Appeared  to  be  in  better  spirits  than  he  had  been  for  a 
long  time. 

Had  some  further  conversation  relative  to  the  governor's  de- 
claration that  Count  Las  Cases  had,  in  li.s  journal,  made  Napo- 
leon say,  that  he  al^horred  the  sight  of  the  Biilish  uniform,  and 
his  excellency's  assertion,  that  Las  Cases  had  endeavored  to 
make  him  hate  the  English.     "1  cannot  conceive,"  said  Niip«> 


248  A    VciCK    KliOM    .ST.    JIKI.KNA. 

leon,  "  what  olijict  L;is  Cases  cuiilJ  liavc  in  view  by  joing  su  t 
What  c'ciiKI  Ik-  gain  b}  it?  On  the  contrary,  Las  Cases  always 
spoke  well  of  the  English,  saiil  that  he  had  been  ten  years 
amongst  them,  and  had  l)een  always  well  treated.  It  is  an  inven- 
tion of  this  man's,  whose  whole  superstructure  is  built  upon 
lies.  I  said,  certainly,  that  I  did  not  like  to  see  officers  in  uni- 
form, closely  attending  or  watching  me,  because  the  uniform  re- 
minded me  that  I  was  considered  as  a  prisoner,  and  gave  rise  to 
unpleasant  reflections.  If  even  you  were  to  come  into  my  apart- 
ment every  day  in  your  uniform,  it  would  give  me  the  idea  of 
your  being  a  gendarme.  But  this  man  has  no  morale.  The  ad- 
miral had,  and  immediately  understood  the  delicacy  of  it,  when 
it  was  mentioned  to  him." 

He  then  asked  some  medical  questions,  went  into  the  billiard- 
room,  ordered  some  bottled  porter,  took  a  glass  of  it,  saying,  in 
English,  Your  health,  and  made  me  take  another.  Asked  many 
questions  about  porter,  and  was  much  surprised  at  the  low  price 
it  bore  in  England.  While  walking  about  the  room,  "  What 
sort  of  a  man  did  you  take  me  to  be,  before  you  became  my 
surgeon  V  said  he.  "  What  did  you  think  of  my  character,  and 
what  1  was  capable  of?  Give  me  your  real  opinion  frankly."  I 
replied:  "I  thought  you  to  be  a  man,  whose  stupendous  talents 
were  only  to  be  equalled  by  your  measureless  ambition  ;  and 
although  I  did  not  give  credit  to  one-tenih  part  of  the  libels  which 
I  had  read  against  you,  still  I  believed  that  you  would  not  hesi- 
tate to  commit  a  crime  when  you  found  it  to  be  necessary,  or 
thought  it  might  be  useful  to  you."  "  This  is  just  the  answer 
that  I  expected,"  replied  Napoleon,  "and  is  perhaps  the  opinion 
of  Lord  Holland,  and  even  of  numbers  of  the  French.  I  have 
risen  to  too  great  a  pitch  of  human  glory  and  elevation,  not  to 
have  excited  the  envy  and  jealousy  of  mankind.  They  will  say, 
'  It  is  true  that  he  has  raised  himself  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of 
glory,  mais  pour  y  arriver,  il  commit  beaucoup  de  crimes,  (but  to 
attain  it,  he  has  committed  many  crimes.')  Now,  the  fact  is, 
that  1  not  only  never  committed  any  crimes,  but  I  never  even 
thought  of  doing  so.  J''ai  tonjours  marche  avec  ^opinion  dea 
grandei  masses  et  lea  evenemens,  (1  have  always  gone  with  the 


mi — MARCH.  ^4S 

opinion  of  great  masses,  and  with  events).  I  have  always  made 
peu  de  c«s,  (light  of)  the  opinion  of  individuals,  of  that  of  the 
public  a  great  deal ;  of  what  use,  then,  would  crime  have  been  to 
me  ?  I  am  too  much  a  fatalist,  and  have  always  despised  man- 
kind too  much,  to  have  had  recourse  to  crime  to  frustrate  thei 
attempts.  J^ai  marche  totijours  avec  Vopinion  de  cinq  ou  six  mil 
lions  d''hommes^  (I  have  always  marched  with  the  opinion  of  five 
or  six  millions  of  men  ;)  of  what  use,  then,  would  crime  have 
been  to  me  V 

"  In  spite  of  all  the  libels,"  continued  he.  "  I  have  no  fear 
whatever  about  my  fame.  Posterity  will  do  me  justice.  The 
truth  Mill  be  known;  and  the  good  which  I  have  done,  with  the 
faults  which  I  have  committed,  will  be  compared.  I  am  not 
uneasy  for  the  result.  Had  I  succeeded,  I  should  have  died  with 
the  reputation  of  the  greatest  man  that  ever  existed.  As  it  is, 
although  I  have  failed,  I  shall  be  considered  as  an  extraordinary 
man  :  my  elevation  was  unparalleled,  because  unaccompanied  by 
crime.  I  have  fought  fifty  pitched  battles,  almost  all  of  which 
I  have  gained.  I  have  framed  and  carried  into  effect  a  code  of 
laws,  that  will  bear  my  name  to  the  most  distant  posterity. 
From  nothing  I  raised  myself  to  be  the  most  powerful  monarch 
in  the  world.  Europe  was  at  my  feet.  My  ambition  was  great, 
I  admit,  but  it  was  of  a  cold  nature,  {d^une  nature  froide,)  and 
caused  par  les  evenemens,  (by  events)  and  the  opinion  of  great 
bodies.  I  have  always  been  of  opinion,  that  the  sovereignty  lay 
in  the  people.  In  fact,  the  imperial  government  was  a  kind  of 
republic.  Called  to  the  head  of  it  by  the  voice  of  the  nation, 
my  maxim  was,  la.  carriere  est  ouverte  aux  talens,  (the  careei'  is 
open  to  talents)  without  distinction  of  birth  or  fortine,  and  this 
system  of  equality  is  the  reason  that  your  oligarchy  hate  me  so 
much." 

"  If  ever  policy,"  continued  he,  "authorized  a  man  to  commit 
a  crime  and  murder  others,  it  authorized  me  to  put  to  death  Fer- 
dinand, and  the  other  Bourbons  of  his  family  when  in  France. 
Were  I  a  man  accustomed  to  commit  crimes,  would  I  not  have 
effected  one  which  it  would  have  been  so  beneficial  to  me  to  put 
in  execution  ?     Ferdinand   and    his  family  once  out  of  the  way, 


260  A   VOICE   FROM    ST.   HET.ENA. 

the  Spaniards  woiiUl  havi-  hail  nothing  to  fight  for,  and  would 
have  suhniittod.  No  ;  had  I  been  inclined  to  commit  crimes,  I 
should  not  he  here.  Would  a  French  Bourbon  be  in  existence 
now,  had  1  consented  to  their  murder?  Not  only  did  I  refuse  to 
ronsent,  but  I  positively  prohibited  that  any  attempt  t)f  the  k'nd 
should  be  made." 

"  It  is  not,"  added  Napoleon,  "  by  what  the  Quarterly  Review, 
)r  Pichon  says,  or  by  what  I  could  write  myself,  that  posterity 
will  judge  of  me  ;  it  is  by  the  voice  of  so  many  millions  of  inhab- 
itants who  have  been  under  my  government." 

"Those,"  continued  he,  "  who  consented  to  the  union  of  Poland 
with  Russia,  will  be  the  execration  of  posterity,  while  my  name 
will  be  pronounced  with  respect  when  the  fine  southern  countries 
of  Europe  are  a  prey  to  the  barbarians  of  the  north.  Perhaps 
my  greatest  fault  was  not  having  deprived  the  King  of  Prussia 
of  his  throne,  which  I  might  easily  have  done.  After  Friedland, 
I  ought  to  have  taken  Silesia  and  *  *  *  from  Prussia,  and  given 
them  to  Saxony,  as  the  king  and  the  Prussians  were  too  much 
humiliated  not  to  revenge  themselves  the  first  opportunity.  Had 
I  done  this,  given  them  a  free  constitution,  and  delivered  the 
peasants  from  feudal  slavery,  they  would  have  been  content." 

Napoleon  afterwards  walked  down  to  Count  Bertrand's.  For 
two  or  three  days  he  has  taken  much  more  exercise  than  for- 
merly. 

Ath. — Saw  Napoleon  in  the  billiard-room.  He  was  in  extreme 
good  spirits.  Returned  me  the  Ambigu  for  1816,  and  desired 
me  to  endeavor  to  obtain  the  numbers  for  1815. 

In  answer  to  a  question  of  mine  about  p  *  *  *,  he  said, 
up***  jg  jj  polisson  (blackguard),  who  would  write  for  any 
body  that  would  pay  him.  He  made  offers  to  me  to  change  his 
style,  and  write  for  me  in  such  a  manner  that  the  British  govern- 
ment would  not  be  aware  that  he  was  employed  by  me.  One 
time  in  particular,  he  sent  to  the  police  a  MS.  copy  of  a  book 
written  against  me:  with  an  offer  that  it  should  not  be  printed 
provided  he  were  paid  a  ceitain  sum  of  money.  This  was  made 
known  to  me.  T  ordered  the  police  to  answer,  that  if  he  paid 
the  expenses  of  printing,  the  work  should  be  published  in  Paris 


\811 — MARCH.  261 

for  him.  He  was  not  the  only  one  who  made  offers  of  the  kind 
to  me  when  I  was  in  power.  Some  of  the  editors  of  the  English 
newspapers  made  similar  advances,  and  declared  that  they  could 
render  me  most  essential  services,  but  I  then  did  not  attach 
sufficient  importance  to  it,  and  refused  them.  Not  so  the  Bour- 
bons. In  1814,  the  editor  of  The  *****  newspaper  was  paid 
about  three  thousand  pounds  of  your  money,  besides  having  a 
great  number  of  copies  taken.  I  told  you  before  that  I  found  his 
receipt  amongst  Blacas'  papers  on  my  return  from  Elba.  I  do 
not  know  if  he  is  in  their  pay  now.  In  that  year  also  a  great 
number  of  pamphlets  were  printed  in  London  against  the  Bour- 
bons, and  copies  of  each  sent  over  to  them,  with  a  threat  of  pub 
lication  if  they  were  not  paid.  The  Buurbons  were  greatly 
frightened,  and  greedily  bought  them  up.  There  was  one  pam- 
phlet in  particular,  a  terrible  libel  against  the  late  queen  of 
France,  which  it  cost  them  a  large  sum  of  money  to  suppress. 

"  When  I  was  on  the  throne,"  continued  he,  "  there  were  thirty 
clerks  employed  in  translating  the  English  newspapers,  and  in 
making  extracts  from  English  works  of  merit.  Matters  which 
appeared  of  importance  were  extracted  from  the  newspapers,  and 
daily  submitted  to  me.  But  I  never  had  it  done  in  my  presence, 
or  endeavored  to  accompany  the  translator  in  his  progress,  as 
has  been  asserted.  I  did  not  even  know  the  English  article  ^the' 
at  that  time.  Indeed,  to  me  it  was  not  of  sufficient  importance 
to  learn  the  language  purposely  to  read  the  papers,  especially  as 
I  had  letters  and  intelligence  constantly  from  the  spies  in  Eng- 
land.  The  papers,  however,  served  to  corroborate  their  informa 
tion  relative  to  the  movements  of  troops,  assembling  and  sailing 
of  men  of  war,  and  other  measures  of  government." 

The  governor  at  Longwood.  Explained  his  intentions  of  put- 
ting the  iron  railing  round  the  house,  the  doors  of  which  he  said 
he  should  cause  to  be  locked  at  seven  or  eight  o'clock  at  night, 
and  the  keys  sent  to  Plantation  House,  where  they  should  remain 
until  day-lireak  the  next  morning. 

5^/t.— The  Tortoise  store  ship,  Captain  Cook,  arrived  directly 
from  England,  which  she  had  left  on  the  18th  of  De((Miil)c"r,  1810. 
Went  to  town,  and  learned  that  Warden  had  pubiislKd  a  Ixjok 


2r>2  A    VOICK    FKOM    ST.    MKLKXA. 

ftliDut  Nnjioli'on,  uliicli  liad  iMilfd  roiisidt'r;il)lo  iiitcrcsf,  and 
was  supposed  to  liavc  produced  a  i'avoial)Ie  iiiiprossioii  tdwaids 
him.  neooivod  some  newspapers  containing  extracts  from  the 
work. 

On  my  retnrn  to  T^ongwood,  I  found  Napoleon  in  ipiiu;  dif 
fereiit  spirits  from  yisterday.  He  was  reclining  on  his  sofa,  in  a 
vt-ry  pensive  attitude,  iiis  head  resting  upon  one  of  his  hantls,  and 
ajiparently  mehmcholy.  His  morning  gown  was  on,  a  Madras 
round  his  head,  and  his  beard  unshaved.  In  rather  a  desponding 
manner,  he  asked  me,  "  Wliat  news?"  and  if  the  ship  had  arrived 
from  Enghmd.  I  replied  that  she  had  arrived  direct  from  that 
country.  After  having  related  some  of  what  I  had  heard  and 
conceived  to  be  most  interesting,  I  mentioned  that  a  book  had 
been  published  respecting  him  by  Warden,  which  had  excited 
great  interest.  At  the  name  of  Warden,  he  raised  his  head  and 
said,  "  What,  W^arden  of  the  Northumberland  ?"  I  replied  in  the 
affirmative.  "  What  is  the  nature  of  the  work  1  Is  it  for  or 
against  me?  Is  it  well  written?  What  is  the  subject?"  I 
replied  that  it  was  a  description  of  what  had  passed  on  hoard  of 
the  Northumberland  and  here;  that  it  was  in  his  favor,  and 
contained  many  curious  statements,  and  also  refutations  of  some 
accusations  that  had  been  made  against  him,  an  explanation  about 
the  affair  of  the  Due  d'Enghien,  and  that  it  was  well  written,  &;c. 
"  Have  you  seen  it?"  I  replied,  "  No."  "  Then  how  do  you  know 
that  it  is  in  my  favor,  or  that  it  is  well  written?"  1  replied  that 
I  had  seen  sonie  extracts  from  it  in  the  newspapers,  which  I  gave 
U)  him.  He  sat  down  to  read  the  papers,  asked  the  explanation 
of  a  few  passages,  said  they  were  true ;  inquired  what  Warden 
had  said  of  the  Due  d'Enghien.  I  replied  that  he  asserted  that 
Talleyrand  had  detained  a  letter  from  the  Duke  for  a  considerable 
time  after  his  execution,  and  that  he  had  attributed  his  death  to 
Talleyrand.  "i?i  questo  non  c'  e  duhhio^''  (of  this  there  is  no 
doubt,)  replied  Napoleon. 

Nap(<le<jn  then  asked  how  the  work  had  been  received  in  Eng- 
land. I  replied,  "I  had  heard  that  it  had  succeeded  very  well." 
He  asked  whether  the  ministers  were  pleased  with  it.  I  an- 
iwered,  "  that  they   had  not  as  yet   shown  any  displeasure,  aa 


1817 — MARCH.  253 

Warden  had  been  recently  appointed  to  a  ship."  "  I  sjppose," 
said  Napoleon,  "  that  he  has  arranged  it  so  as  to  please  the  min- 
isters ?"  I  replied  that  from  what  I  had  been  able  to  learn,  he 
had  endeavored  to  state  the  truth. 

I  then  assisted  him  in  reading  over  some  extracts  which  wore 
ill  the  Observer,  the  correctness  of  which  he  admitted.  He 
perused  very  attentively  and  made  me  explain  to  niin  three 
times  an  article  which  stated  that  the  Empress  Marie  Louise  had 
fallen  from  her  horse  into  the  Po,  and  with  difficulty  had  been 
saved  from  a  watery  grave.  He  appeared  considei-ably  aflected 
by  the  perusal. 

Subsequently  he  conversed  about  the  tumults  in  England,  and 
the  distress  of  the  poorer  classes.  "  Your  ministers,"  said  he, 
"  are  answerable  for  all  the  misery  and  the  distress  of  England, 
by  their  having  neglected  to  take  advantage  of  favorable  cir- 
cumstances to  secure  to  the  country  great  commercial  advantages. 
In  consequence  of  my  misfortunes  in  Russia,  successes  unparal- 
leled in  the  history  of  tlie  world  attended  her,  and  by  the  force 
of  circumstances,  an  opportunity  was  afforded  her  of  rendering 
herself  the  most  flourishing  and  powerful  nation  in  the  world.  1 
have  always  considered  England  to  be  in  a  dangerous  state,  in  an 
unnatural  state  of  over-exertion,  and  that  if  some  unforeseen  cir- 
cumstance did  not  arise  to  succor  her,  she  must  sink  under  the 
pressure  of  the  exertions  she  has  made,  and  the  load  of  taxation. 
Such  an  oppoitunity  has  occurred,  but  your  ministers,  like  block- 
heads, have  not  taken  advantage  of  it,  but  preferred  paying  tlieir 
court  to  those  kings  to  consulting  the  interests  of  their  country. 
Every  sovereign  or  minister  ought  to  hold  the  interests  and 
welfare  of  his  own  country  paramount  to  all  other  considerations, 
and  ought  never  to  fail  to  take  advantage  of  existing  circum- 
stances to  benefit  it,  particularly  when  it  can  be  done  by  means 
of  a  treaty.  Those  who  neglect  it,  are  traitors  to  their  country. 
You  have  already  the  hatred  of  all  natitxis,  in  consequence  of 
your  maritime  laws,  and  your  preti;nsions  to  be  mistress  of  the 
seas,  which  you  say  belongs  to  you  by  right.  Then  why  not 
take  advantage  of  if?  You  have  made  a  most  unprofitable  bar- 
gainj  you  have  the  hatred   of  all   oUier  nations,  on  account  of 


254  A   VOICE    FROM   ST.    HELENA. 

your  nmiitiiiu'  pretensions,  without  (-'iijoyiny  any  benefit  from 
ihi'tn.  Your  ministers  do  not  know  the  situation  of  their  own 
country." 

"  It  appoars  to  nie,"  continued  he,  "  to  be  clearly  the  intention 
of  your  ministers  to  subject  England  to  a  military  yoke,  to  put 
down  by  degrees  the  liberty  which  prevails  there,  and  to  render 
their  own  power  unlimited.  All  those  honors  conferred  upon 
the  military,  and  the  tenor  of  several  other  stops  lately  adopted, 
are  only  so  many  preliminaries  towards  it.  I  can  discern  their 
object.  Assistance,  if  necessary,  will  probably  be  rendered  by 
the  other  sovereigns  of  Europe,  who  are  jealous,  and  cannot  bear 
the  idea  that  England  should  be  the  only  free  nation  in  Europe. 
They  will  all  assist  in  putting  you  down."  I  observed  that  the 
English  would  never  submit  to  be  made  a  nation  of  slaves.  He 
replied,  "There  is  every  appearance  that  the  attempt  will  be 
made." 

Some  broken  numbers  of  the  Times,  and  a  few  letters  sent  up 
by  the  governor.  General  Gourgaud  received  a  letter  from  his 
sister,  which  informed  him  that  Sir  George  Cockburn  had  called 
twice  to  see  his  mother  in  Paris.  This  mark  of  attention  on  the 
part  of  the  admiral  quite  enchanted  General  Gourgaud.  Count 
and  Countess  Bertrand  were  in  raptures,  as  the  same  letter  stated 
that  Madame  Dillon,  the  Countess's  mother,  was  doing  well. 
Though  for  many  years  a  wanderer,  I  never  observed  so  forcibly 
before  the  satisfaction  and  consolation  afforded  by  a  letter  from 
distant  relations  or  friends,  to  those  who  are  separated  from  their 
home.  By  the  joy  in  the  countenances  of  some  at  Longwood,  it 
was  easy  to  distinguish  those  who  had  received  intelligence,  as  the 
melancholy  and  dissatisfoction  portrayed  in  the  others  denoted 
the  contrary.  There  was  no  necessity  for  asking  any  questions. 
A.  line  of  writing  from  Europe  is,  at  Longwood,  a  treasure  above 
ill  price. 

(jth. — Some  French  newspapers  sent  up  to  Napoleon  by  the 
•.dmiral,  through  the  governor.  Napoleon  very  anxious  to  hear 
iome  more  intelligence  of  Marie  Louise.  The  circumstance  he 
observed  yesterday  appeared  to  have  excited  some  apprehensiona 
for  her  safety  in  his  mind,  which  was  not  much  relieved  when  he 


181*7 — MARCB.  266 

perceived  that  only  broken  numbers  of  the  newspapers  hac  been 
sent  up  by  the  governor.  On  coming  afterwards  to  an  article  in 
the  French  papers,  which  stated  that  the  project  of  causing  Paris 
to  be  supplied  by  an  English  water-company  had  been  aban- 
doned, he  called  out  to  me,  "  Have  I  not  told  you  so,  and  that  the 
people  would  not  suffer  it  V  Informed  him  that  the  governor 
had  sent  up  Mr.  Warden's  book  to  me,  with  instructions  to 
deliver  it  to  him.  He  looked  at  the  foe-simile  of  his  own  hand- 
writing, and  laughed  heartily. 

At  night  Napoleon  sent  for  me.  Said  that  he  was  convinced 
the  governor  had  kept  back  some  letters  and  newspapers.  That 
he  had  no  doubt  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  had  himself  received  a 
complete  series  of  papers,  but  that  he  had  kept  back  some  accord- 
ing to  his  usual  brutal  custom,  because  there  might  have  been 
an  article  which  would  prove  agreeable  to  him.  "  At  first,"  said 
he,  "  I  thought  that  there  might  have  been  some  bad  news  of  ray 
wife,  but  a  moment's  reflection  taught  me,  that  if  so,  this  man 
would  not  have  failed  to  send  it  directly,  in  order  to  afflict  me. 
Perhaps  there  may  be  some  news  of  my  son ;  when  you  go  to 
town  to-morrow,  endeavor  to  see  a  complete  series  of  papers, 
and  look  attentively  at  them.  You  can  find  out  ten  articles  in 
your  papers  while  I  am  searching  for  one.  Try  and  get  some 
more  of  the  Portsmouth  papers,  as  the  news  is  more  condensed 
in  them,  and  I  do  not  lose  myself  as  in  looking  over  a  number  of 
the  Times." 

7th. — Cipriani  in  town  making  purchases  of  provisions. 

8ih. — Mrs.  and  Miss  Balcombe  at  Longwood.  Napoleon  sent 
for  and  conversed  with  them  for  a  few  minutes.  Sir  Hudson 
Lowe,  when  informed  of  this,  said,  "  that  they  had  no  business  to 
have  spoken  to  General  Bonaparte,  as  their  pass  had  only  speci- 
fied Count  Bertrand's  family." 

10^/i. — Napoleon  in  good  spirits.  Had  some  conversation 
relative  to  Warden's  book.  I  asked  him  about  that  part  which 
treats  of  the  governor's  physiognomy  ;  and  Warden's  reply  that 
he  liked  Lady  Lowe's  better.  He  laughed,  and  replied,  "As  well  as 
[  recollect,  it  is  true.     But  I  said  mucii  worse  than  what  Warden 


25rt  A    VOICK    KKdM    SI'.    HELKNA. 

hjis  statoil  tlioro,  wliii-li  I  lu-lli'vi'  is  to  In-  toiiinl  lu  fijis!  Cases' 
journal,  wluMo  tlie  govoiiinr  must  have  scon  my  ri'marks." 

1  tlK-n  asko(1  liis  opinion  of  Warden's  l)ooi<.  He  replied, 
"The  foundation  of  it  is  true,  but.  he  has  badly  understood  what 
was  said  to  him  ;  as  in  tlie  work  there  are  many  mistakes,  which 
must  have  arisen  from  bad  explanation  ;  Warden  does  not  under- 
stand Flench.  He  has  acted  wrong  in  making  me  speak  in  the 
manner  he  has  done.  For,  instead  of  having  stated  that  it  had 
been  conveyed  through  an  interpreter,  he  puts  down  almost 
everything  as  if  I  had  been  speaking  to  him  all  the  time,  and  as 
if  he  could  have  understood  me ;  consequently  he  has  put  into 
my  mouth  expressions  unworthy  of  me,  and  not  in  my  style. 
Any  person  who  knows  me,  will  readily  see  that  it  is  not  in  my 
style.  In  fact,  most  of  what  he  has  received  through  interpreta- 
tion, and  that  composes  a  large  portion  of  the  work,  is  more  or 
less  incorrect.  He  has  said,  that  Massena  had  stormed  the  vil- 
lage of  Esling  thirteen  times,  which,  if  the  work  is  translated 
into  French,  will  make  every  French  officer  acquainted  with  the 
battle  laugh,  as  Massena  was  not  at  that  particular  spot  during 
the  whole  of  the  action.  What  he  says  about  the  prisoners  that 
had  been  made  at  Jaffa  is  also  incorrect,  as  they  were  marched 
on  twelve  leagues  in  the  direction  of  Bagdad,  and  not  to  Naza- 
reth. They  were  Maugrabins  from  near  Algiers,  and  not  natives 
of  the  country  that  he  mentions ;  he  is  incorrect  in  stating  that  I 
had  proposed  to  give  the  sick  opium  :  I  did  not  p^'opose  it.  It 
was  first  made  by  one  of  the  medical  officers.  He  is  wrong  in  the 
explanation  which  he  has  given  of  the  reason  why  I  wished 
Wright  to  live.  My  principal  reason  was,  to  be  able  to  prove, 
as  I  told  you  before,  by  Wright's  evidence,  that  *  *  *  had  cause<' 
assassins,  hired  by  the  Count  d'*  *  *  *  to  be  landed  in  France, 
in  order  to  murder  me.  This  I  thought  I  should  have  effected 
by  Wright's  own  evidence  at  a  trial  in  presence  of  the  ambassa- 
dors of  the  powers  in  friendship  with  me.  Now  there  was  some- 
•iiing  glorious  in  Wright's  death.  He  preferred  taking  away  his 
:>wn  life  to  compromising  his  government. 

"The  Due  d'Enghien  was  to  have  come  to  Paris  to  assist  the 
issassins.     The  Due  de  Berri  also  was  to  have  landed  at  a  cor- 


1817 — MARCH.  257 

tain  place  in  Picard^,  to  have  excited  insurrection  and  assassina- 
tion. I  got  information  of  this,  and  Savary  was  dispatched  to 
the  spot  to  arrest  him.  If  he  had  been  taken,  he  would  have 
been  instantly  shot.  He  was  on  board  of  an  English  vessel 
which  came  in  close  to  the  coast,  but  a  certain  signal  which  had 
been  previously  agreed  upon,  not  having  been  made  from  Be- 
ville,  he  became  afraid,  and  stood  off.  The  place  where  they 
were  to  have  landed  was  called  the  falaise  de  Bevi/le,  near  Dieppe, 
at  the  foot  of  a  steep  precipice,  up  which  people  are  obliged  to 
climb  by  the  help  of  ropes.  It  was  chosen  by  them  on  this 
account,  as  they  were  not  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  the  custom- 
house officers.  The  Count  d'  *  *  *,  and  the  Due  de  B  *  *  were 
always  endeavoring  to  procure  my  assassination.  Louis,  I 
believe,  was  not  privy  to  it.  They  thought,  I  suppose,  that  they 
were  at  liberty  to  make  as  many  attempts  to  assassinate  me  as 
they  chose,  with  impunity.  As  head  of  the  French  government, 
by  the  laws  of  politics,  and  by  the  laws  of  nature,  I  should  have 
been  justified  in  causing  assassination  in  return ;  which  it  would 
have  been  most  easy  for  me  to  have  effected." 

"  Shortly  after  Marengo,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  Louis  wrote 
a  letter  to  me,  which  was  delivered  by  the  Abbe  Montesquieu, 
in  which  he  said  that  I  delayed  for  a  long  time  to  restore  him  to 
his  throne  ;  that  the  happiness  of  France  could  never  be  com- 
plete without  him  ;  neither  could  the  glory  of  the  country  be 
complete  without  me ;  that  one  was  as  necessary  to  it  as  the 
other  ;  and  concluded  by  desiring  me  to  choose  whatever  I  thought 
proper,  which  would  be  granted  under  him,  provided  that  I  re- 
stored him  to  his  throne.  I  sent  him  back  a  very  handsome 
answer,  in  which  I  stated  that  1  was  extremely  sorry  for  the  mis- 
fortunes of  himself  and  his  family  ;  that  I  was  ready  to  do  every- 
thing in  my  power  to  relieve  them,  and  would  interes^t  myself 
about  providing  a  suitable  income  for  them,  but  that  he  might 
abandon  the  thought  of  ever  returning  to  France  as  a  sovereign, 
as  that  could  not  be  effected  without  his  having  passed  over  the 
bodies  of  five  hundred  thousand  Frenchmen." 

"Warden  has  been  incorrectly  informed  that  Maret  was  privy 
Vo  my  return  to  France.     He  knew  nothing  about  it,  and  such  a 


268  A  v<>r;k  fko.m  si.  iiki.kna. 

5tati  iiiiiit  may  iiijuri-  liis  iclatiDiis  in  France.  II*-  has  acted  also 
ungiiardfdlv  in  a-ssiTling  niatteis  upon  the  authority  of  C^ount 
and  Countess  Bertrand,  as  it  may  cause  thoni  many  enemies. 
He  ought  to  have  said,  '  I  have  been  told  at  Longwood.'  As  to 
his  s.\viug  tiiat  the  information  cjimc  from  me,  I  care  not  as  I 
fear  nobody ;  but  he  ouglit  tt)  have  i)eeM  cautious  about  the 
v>thers.'' 

'' Warilen,"  added  he,  "  is  a  man  of  good  intoiitioiis,  and  the 
foundation  of  his  work  is  true;  but  many  of  the  circumstances 
are  incorrectly  stated,  in  consequence  of  misconception  and  bad 
interpretation,  Gourgaud  was  very  angry  yesterday  about  what 
was  said  of  him.  I  told  him  that  he  ought  to  take  example  hy 
me,  and  observe  with  what  patience  1  bore  the  lil)cls  on  me,  with 
which  the  press  was  overwhelmed  ;  that  they  had  made  me  a 
poisoner,  an  assassin,  a  violator, — a  monster,  who  was  guilty  of 
hiisest,  and  of  every  horrid  crime,  &c.  That  he  ought  to  reflect 
upon  this  and  be  silent." 

"  I  see,"  continued  he,  "by  some  answer  in  the  Times,  that  the 
Morning  Chronicle  appears  to  defend  me.  What  harm  could  it 
possibly  be  to  let  me  see  that  paper? — to  let  me  read  something 
favorable  of  myself?  It  is  very  seldom  that  I  now  see  anything 
of  the  kind,  but  it  is  a  cruelty  to  withhold  so  seldom  a  conso- 
lation." 

"You  recollect  1  told  you  that  the  English  w(juld  change  their 
opinion  of  me,  and  that,  from  the  great  intercourse  they  had  with 
France  and  Italy,  they  would  soon  discover  that  1  was  not  the 
horrid  character  they  had  believed  me  to  be  ;  and  also  that  the 
English  travelers,  in  returning  from  the  countries  which  had  been 
under  my  dominion,  would  bring  back  with  them  sentiments 
quite  different  from  those  with  which  they  had  set  out.  This  is 
now  beginning  to  take  place,  and  will  increase  every  day.  Those 
people  will  say,  '  We  have  been  deceived.  On  the  continent  we 
have  heard  none  of  those  horrid  stories.  On  the  contrary  ; 
wherever  there  was  a  fine  road,  or  a  noble  bridge,  and  we  asked, 
Who  made  this  ?  the  answer  has  been,  Napoleon,  or  Bonaparte.' 
They  will  naturally  say.  At  least  this   man  encouraged  the  arts 


1817 — MAECH.  259 

and  the  sciences  during  his  leign,  and  endeavored  to  facilitate 
aud  to  increase  the  commerce  of  the  countries  under  him." 

"Lord  Castlereagh,"  continued  he,  "has  been  guilty  of  a  base 
libel  by  having  declared  that  I  had  said  since  I  came  here,  that 
'  in  peace,  or  in  war,  I  aimed  at  the  destruction  of  England.'  It 
is  wholly  false,  and  I  shall  make  it  a  subject  of  complaint  to  his 
master,  the  Prince  Regent,  and  expose  to  him  the  unworthy  con- 
duct of  his  minister;  conduct  degrading  to  the  character  of  a 
man.  It  is  always  dishonorable  and  base  to  publicly  insult  and 
belie  the  unfortunate ;  especially  when  in  your  power,  and  at 
such  a  distance  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  a  reply." 

He  then  made  some  observations  respecting  Talleyrand.  "  As 
to  Talleyrand,"  said  he,  "  O'est  un  coquin,  uii  homme  corrompu, 
mais  homme  d^esprit,  (he  is  a  villain,  a  corrupt  man,  but  a  man 
of  genius.)  A  man  who  seeks  every  opportunity  to  betray. 
After  the  marriage  of  Prince  Eugene,  I  was  obliged  to  turn  him 
out  of  office,  on  account  of  complaints  made  against  him  by  the 
kings  of  Bavaria  and  Wirtemberg.  Nothing  was  to  be  got,  no 
treaty  to  be  made,  or  arrangement  for  commerce,  without  first 
having  bribed  him.  There  was  some  comcnercial  treaties  on 
foot  at  the  time,  to  conclude  which,  he  demanded  enormous  sums. 
The  Bourbons  have  done  right  to  get  rid  of  him,  as  he  would 
have  betrayed  them  the  first  opportunity,  if  he  saw  that  there 
was  any  probability  of  success,  as  he  had  offered  to  do  after  my 
return  from  Elba. 

"  Your  ministers,"  said  he,  "  reason  thus  for  sending  me  to  St. 
Helena:  This  Bonaparte  is  a  man  of  talent,  and  has  always 
been  an  enemy  to  England.  The  Bourbons  are  a  set  of  imbeciles, 
and  it  is  better  for  the  English  to  have  imbeciles  on  the  throne  of 
France,  than  persons  of  talent.  For  the  former  will  not  have 
the  ability,  though  they  may  have  the  inclination  to  do  as  much 
mischief  to  England  as  the  latter.  We  must  do  every  thing  we 
can  to  keep  down  the  French,  who  are  our  natural  enemies  ;  and 
the  best  mode  of  effi^cting  it,  is  to  place  a  set  of  fools  upon  the 
throne,  who  will  occupy  themselves  in  restoring  the  old  supersti- 
tion, ignorance,  and  prejudices  of  the  nation,  and  consequently 
weaken,   instead  of  strengthening  it.     They   would    have   done 


2rt(.)  A    VOU'K    FKt»M    SI'.    IlKLKNA. 

ln'ttiM,"  rciiitiiukil  ho,  "'J'u  have  lift  iiu-  U|k)Ii  tlic  throne.  1 
would  liavt'  yiveii  I  ho  English  grout  cotiinionial  ailvautagos,  which 
the  liourluius  dure  not  oiler.  Besides,  it  wmild  have  kojtt  up  the 
importance  of  the  English  on  the  continent.  For  the  other 
powers  being  afraid  of  me,  would  have  made  sacrifices  to  keep 
t>n  good  terms  with  them,  in  order  to  have  them  on  their  side, 
well  knowing  that  without  their  aid,  they  could  do  nothing  against 
me;  whereas  now,  as  they  are  not  afraid  of  the  Bourbons,  they 
will  sol  but  little  value  upon  the  friendship  of  a  })ower  that  they 
are  jealous  of,  and  want  to  humble.  Moreover,  your  ministers 
could  always  have  held  me  up  in  terroioa  to  the  people  of  Eng- 
land, whenever  they  wanted  to  command  the  exertions  of  the 
nation." 

"  I  see,"  added  Napoleon,  "  no  feasible  measure  to  remedy 
the  distress  of  your  manufacturers,  except  endeavoring  by  all 
means  in  your  power,  to  promote  the  separation  of  the  Spanish 
S'-uth  American  colonies  from  the  mother-country.  By  means 
of  this,  you  would  have  an  opportunity  of  opening  a  most  exten- 
sive and  lucrative  commerce  with  the  South  Americans,  which 
would  be  productive  of  great  advantages  to  you.  If  you  do  not 
adopt  some  steps  of  the  kind,  the  Americans  will  be  beforehand 
with  you.  If  you  act  as  I  have  said,  they  could  trade  with  no 
other  nation  than  you.  Both  Spain  and  France  must  be  shut  to 
them." 

"If  the  war  with  England  had  lasted  two  or  three  years 
longer,"  added  he,  "  France  would  not  have  had  any  further 
occasion  for  colonies.  In  consequence  of  the  great  encoiirage- 
iiiCDt  I  gave,  and  the  premiums  I  paid  to  those  who  devotea 
I  heir  chemical  labors  to  the  making  of  sugar,  especially  from  the 
beet-root,  it  was  sold  so  low  as  fifteen  sous  a  pound,  and  when 
the  process  should  have  been  a  little  more  matured,  sugar  would 
have  been  made  in  France,  as  cheap  as  it  could  have  been  im- 
ported from  the  West  Indies." 

I  remarked,  that  the  French  could  with  difficulty  have  done 
without  coffee.  "  They  could  very  well  have  contented  them- 
selves with  several  kinds  of  hcrl)S,  as  tea,"  replied  the  emperor 
"  Moreover,  it  would  have  been  possible  to  have  grown  coffee  in 


1817— MARCH.  261 

some  of  the  southern  parts  of  France,  and  an  inferior  kind  of 
coffee  of  grain  might  have  been  substituted." 

A  few  moments  afterwards,  Napoleon  observed,  that  it  was 
true,  as  had  been  stated  in  the  papers,  that  the  Belgians  were 
sorry  that  the  English  had  gained  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 
"  They  considered  themselves  as  Frenchmen,"  said  he,  "  And  in 
truth  they  were  such.  The  greatest  part  of  the  nation  loved  me, 
and  wished  that  I  might  succeed.  The  stories  that  your  minis- 
ters have  taken  such  pains  to  circulate,  respecting  the  nations 
that  1  had  united  to  France  having  hated  me  and  detested  my 
tyranny,  are  all  falsehoods.  The  Italians,  Piedmontese,  Belgians, 
and  others,  are  an  example  of  what  I  say.  You  will  receive 
hereafter  the  opinions  of  those  English  who  have  visited  the  con- 
tinent. You  will  find  that  what  I  tell  you  is  coi'rect,  and  that 
millions  in  Europe  now  ioeep  for  me.  The  Piedmontese  pre- 
ferred being  as  a  province  of  France,  to  being  an  independent 
kingdom  under  the  King  of  Sardinia." 

Count  Bertrand's  cook  went  to  camp  and  got  so  drunk  as  to 
be  totally  incapable  of  cooking  the  dinner  for  the  family.  Napo- 
leon, when  informed  of  this  at  dinner,  sent  some  dishes  off  the 
table  down  to  Countess  Bertrand,  with  his  compliments. 

Wth. — The  Griffon  sloop  of  war  arrived  from  the  Cape  with  a 
mail,  in  which  were  some  letters  for  the  French.  Count  Ber- 
trand received  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  his  brother  was  no 
longer  an  exile,  but  had  been  permitted  to  return  to  his  home, 
and  to  remain  there  under  surveillance,  (being  watched.) 

Informed  by  one  of  the  partners,  that  last  week  an  official 
letter  had  been  sent  to  the  house  of  Balcombe  and  Co.,  to  de- 
mand an  explanation  why /o?<r/feeyi  shillings  more  than  the  sum 
that  had  been  allowed  by  government,  had  been  expended  for 
fish  for  the  establishment  of  Longwood,  in  the  preceding  fortnight. 
Also,  a  demand  to  know  why  two  shillings  and  sixpence  more 
than  the  allowance,  had  been  expended  for  wine.  Moreover, 
that  forty  pounds  of  barley  had  been  sent  up  to  Longwood  by 
order  of  the  surgeon,  for  the  use  of  Countess  Bertrand,  a  repeii 
tion  of  which  in  future  was  prohibited,  unless  the  order  was  first 
approved  of  at  Plantation  House. 


262  A    VOICK    FKOM    ST.    HELENA. 

Last  Siinday,  Mr.  Bulcoinlio  iind  myself  hud  a  coiiversaUon 
with  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  in  the  Library  at  Phmtation  House,  rel- 
ative to  the  alVairs  of  Loii{^wood.  Mr.  Balconibe  presented  two 
sets  of  bills  drawn  by  Cuinit  IJertrand  for  his  approval.  His  ex- 
cellency professed  himself  tn  be  greatly  surprised  at  the  large 
sums  of  money  laid  out  by  the  French,  and  said  that  twelve 
thousand  a  year  ought  to  cover  all  expenses.  He  was  informed 
l>y  Mr.  Balcombe  and  myself,  that  it  was  chiefly  expended  in 
the  purchase  of  provisions  and  other  necessaries  of  life,  as  the 
allowance  granted  by  government  was  not  sufficient.  Amongst 
many  other  articles,  1  mentioned  that  only  seventy-two  pounds 
of  beef  was  allowed.  Sir  Hudson  said,  that  he  would  increase 
the  quantity  to  one  hundred,  and  would  confer  with  Count  Ber- 
trand  on  the  subject.  He  was  apparently  in  a  very  bad  humor, 
and  railed  at  what  he  termed  the  imjnidence  of  Las  Cases,  on 
having  presumed  to  send  from  the  Cape  to  Longwood,  some 
wine,  Florence  oil,  and  other  articles  of  a  similar  nature,  for  the 
use  of  the  French,  which  he  said  was  an  insult  to  the  British 
government,  and  concluded  by  refusing  to  approve  of  more  than 
ine  set  of  bills.* 

12/A. — Saw  the  emperor  at  eleven,  A.  M.,  in  a  very  good 
humor.  He  made  some  remarks  again  about  the  disturbances  in 
England.  Observed,  that  he  thought  the  Prince  Regent  must 
adopt  some  measures  in  order  to  pacify  the  people,  such  as  re- 
ducing the  taxes.  "  It  is  impossible,"  said  he,  "  that  a  nation  in 
cold  blood  will  consent  to  pay  in  time  of  peace,  taxes  nearly 
equal  to  the  amount  of  those  paid  by  them  in  war,  when  there  is 
no  longer  that  stimulus,  that  irritation  of  mind  which  made  them 
consider  such  drainings  of  their  purses  absolutely  necessary  to 
prevent  their  country  from  being  devoured  by  a  foreign  nation. 
'•  England,"  contmued  he,  "is  in  an  unnatural  state,  and  some 
change  must  take  place." 

T  said,  that  though  great  distress  existed  in  England,  the  dis 
turbances  were  confined  to  the  lower  classes,  and  that  it  would 

•  8ir  Hudiwn  Lowe  would  not  allow  any  bill  of  exchange  drawn  by  any 
of  the  Inbabitante  of  Longwood  to  be  cashed,  unless  it  had  been  previously  a^ 
prov«d  of,  and  indorsed  by  himself. 


1817 — MARCH.  263 

end  by  a  few  of  them  being  hanged.  Napoleon  replied,  "It  may 
be  so,  Mr.  Doctor,  but  you  must  consider  that  the  canaille,  as 
you  call  them,  are  the  bulk  of  the  people.  They,  and  not  the 
nobles,  form  the  nation.  When  the  canaille  gains  the  day,  it 
ceases  to  be  any  longer  canaille.  It  is  then  called  the  nation. 
If  it  does  not,  why  then  some  are  executed,  and  they  are  called 
canaille,  rebels,  robbers,  &c.     Thus  goes  the  world." 

I  then  asked  Napoleon  if  it  were  true  that  he  had  once  been  in 
danger  of  being  taken  by  the  Cossacs,  as  had  been  stated  ?  "  At 
the  battle  of  Brienne,"  replied  he,  "  I  recollect,  that  about  twenty 
or  twenty -five  Uhlans,  not  Cossacs,  got  round  one  of  the  wings 
of  my  army,  and  endeavored  to  fall  upon  a  part  of  the  artillery. 
It  was  at  the  close  of  the  day,  and  just  commencing  to  be  dark. 
They  stumbled  somehow  or  another  upon  me,  and  my  etat-major. 
When  they  saw  us,  they  were  quite  lost,  and  did  not  know  how 
to  act.  They  did  not  know,  however,  who  I  was,  neither  was  I 
myself  for  some  time  aware  of  what  they  were.  I  thought  they 
were  some  of  my  own  troops.  Caulaincourt,  however,  perceived 
who  they  were,  and  called  out  to  me,  that  we  were  amongst 
enemies.  Just  at  this  moment,  those  Uhlans  being  frightened, 
and  not  knowing  what  to  do,  began  to  fly,  and  tried  to  escape  in 
all  directions.  My  staff  began  to  fire  upon  them.  One  of  them 
galloped  up  so  close  to  me  (without  knowing  me)  as  to  touch  my 
knee  violently  with  his  hand.  He  had  a  spear  in  his  hand  at  the 
charge,  but  it  was  with  the  opposite  hand  that  he  touched  me. 
At  first,  I  thought  it  was  one  of  my  own  staff  who  was  riding 
roughly  by  me,  but  looking  round,  I  perceived  that  he  was  an 
enemy.  I  put  my  hand  down  to  draw  out  one  of  my  pistols  to 
fire  at  him,  but  he  was  gone.  Whether  he  was  killed  or  escaped 
I  know  not.  That  day,  I  drew  my  sword,  which  was  a  circum- 
stance that  rarely  had  occurred,  as  I  gained  battles  with  my  eye 
and  not  with  my  arms.  Those  Uhlans  weic  afterwards,  I  believe, 
cut  to  pieces."  I  asked  if  he  had  considered  himself  to  have 
been  in  any  great  peril  on  that  day  1  "  No,"  said  he,  "  it  was 
an  accident.  My  cavalry  was  in  another  part  of  the  field  at  the 
time.     It  was  possible,  certainly,  that  I  might  have  been  killed 


264  A  VOICE  IKOM  ST.    11K1,ENA. 

I>ut  thoy  were  more  intent  upon  running  nway  llieinselves,  than 
upon  killing  any  of  us,"* 

1  asiiod,  if  during  the  retreat  from  Moscow,  lie  hud  over  been 
in  danger  of  being  taken  by  the  Cossacs.  "  Never,"  replied 
Napoleon,  "I  had  always  with  me  a  guard  suffieient  to  repel  any 
iltaek,  and  not  even  to  admit  of  any  apprehension  as  to  the 
result  in  CAse  one  were  made." 

\otfi. — Napoleon  in  his  bath.  In  very  good  spirits.  After 
some  conversation  on  the  subject  of  what  had  been  lately  publish- 
ed respecting  him,  "  I  suppose,"  said  he,  "  that  when  you  go  to 
England,  you  will  publish  your  book.  You  certainly  have  a 
better  right  to  publish  about  me  than  Warden,  and  you  can  say, 
that  you  have  heard  me  say  many  things,  and  have  had  long  con- 
versations with  me.  You  would  gain  a  great  deal  of  money,  and 
every  body  would  believe  you.  Truly,  no  French  physician  has 
ever  been  so  much  about  me  as  you  have  been.  I  saw  them  only 
for  a  few  minutes.  The  world  is  anxious  to  know  every  little 
circumstance  of  a  man  that  has  happened  to  make  any  figure  in 
it,  such  as  all  the  little  trifles  about  how  he  eats,  drinks,  sleeps, 
his  general  habits,  and  manners.  People  are  more  anxious  to 
learn  those  sottises  than  to  know  what  good  or  bad  qualities  he 
may  possess.  Pour  moi,  il  suffit  de  dire  la  verite"  (for  me,  it 
suffices  to  tell  the  truth.) 

*  It  has  been  said,  that  on  the  same  night  when  the  French  had  in  their  turn 
Btonned  the  village  of  Brieniie,  Bliic-her  and  his  statf  fell  in  with  a  party  of 
their  cavalry,  and  were  prevented  from  having  been  taken  by  two  Cossacs  who 
bad  seen  them,  and  who  stopped  Blueher  at  the  foot  of  a  flight  of  stairs,  when 
>n  the  point  of  going  out,  who  otherwise  would  have  been  killed  or  made  pri- 
soner. That  they  had  drawn  their  swords,  and  were  prepared  to  fall  upon  the 
French,  but  after  having  made  a  reconnaissance,  they  were  found  to  be  so  uu 
merous,  us  not  to  admit  of  a  probability  of  success.  This,  if  true,  forms 
Mngolar  coincidence  with  what  I  have  related  above ;  but  as  I  had  it  from  Sir 
Hudson  Lowe,  I  cannot,  of  course,  be  responsible  for  the  correctness  of  the 
statement.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  also  informed  me  of  wliat,  according  to  his  idc:i», 
was  a  praise-worthy  specimen  of  the  utter  contempt  in  wliicli  Blueher  held  the 
French  nation,  in  the  following  terms:  "  At  the  time  when  Blueher  made  his 
first  hoiUile  entrance  into  France,  the  mayor  of  the  town  he  occupied  waited 
apon  him  to  offer  his  services  to  procure  whatever  he  might  want,  as  is  cus- 
tomary under  similar  circumstances.  When  the  Prussian  general  had  heard  hin 
boainess,  his  reply  was,  "  Bring  me  a  wench  !" 


1817 — MARCH.  265 

Walked  out  about  five,  and  paid  a  visit  to  Countess  Montholon. 
Napoleon  remained  a  few  minutes  looking  at  Captain  Poppleton, 
who  was  busily  employed  in  digging  some  potatoes  out  of  a  little 
garden  that  we  had  endeavored  to  cultivate  in  front  of  the  house. 

I4(h. — Napoleon  in  very  good  humor.  Told  hi?Ti  that  a  letter 
had  appeared  in  the  French  papers,  which  was  attributed  to  Mar- 
quis Montchenu,  stating  that  upon  his  arrival,  he  (Napoleon)  had 
given  him  an  invitation  to  dine,  to  which  he  had  replied,  that  he 
had  been  sent  to  St.  Helena  to  guard,  and  not  to  dine  with  him. 
"  Ces  messieurs  sont  toiijonrs  les  memes^''  (these  gentlemen  are 
always  the  same,)  replied  the  emperor,  "it  is  very  likely  that  he 
has  been  hUe  enough  to  write  it.  Those  old  French  noblesse  are 
capable  of  any  betise,  (folly.)  He  is  worthy  of  being  one  of  the 
f/rande  naissance*  (high  born)  of  France, 

Mentioned  to  him  that  in  one  of  the  papers  it  had  been  stated, 
that  Sir  George  Cockburn  had  gone  to  Paris,  impressed  with  a 
poor  opinion  of  his  (Napoleon's)  abilities,  and  had  said  that  on 
the  score  of  talent,  he  was  an  ordinary  character,  and  by  no 
means  to  be  feared.  Napoleon  replied,  "  Probably  and  with 
reason  he  does  not  suppose  me  to  be  a  God,  or  to  be  endowed 
with  supernatural  talents;  but  I  will  venture  to  say  that  he  gives 
me  credit  for  possessing  some.  If  he  has  really  expressed  the 
opinion  attributed  to  him,  it  pays  a  poor  compliment  to  the  dis- 
cernment of  the  greatest  part  of  the  world." 

He  then  desired  me  to  get  him  the  paper  which  contained  the 
report  of  Sir  George  Cockburn's  opinion,  adding  that  he  was  now 
so  much  accustomed  to  read  libels,  that  he  cared  but  little  what 
was  said,  or  what  calumnies  were  published  about  him. 

"The  people  of  England  with  difficulty  will  believe,"  added 
he,  "  that  I  not  only  read  those  libels  without  anger,  but  even 
laugh  at  them.  From  the  violence  of  temper  which  has  been 
attributed  to  me,  T  suppose  they  think  I  must  be  worked  up  by 
rage  to  fits  madness.  They  are  mistaken ;  they  only  excite  my 
laughter.     La  verite  sevle  blesse,'^  (truth  alone  wounds.) 

*  The  contemptuous  manner  in  which  tlio  marquis  orencrally  uxprcssed  him- 
eelf  of  any  person  who  was  not  able  to  count  some  hundred  years  of  nobihty  m 
his  fiimitv,  was  notorious  in  St.  Helena. 

12 


26rt  A    VOU'K    V\iO\\    ST     HKl-KNA. 

I  a^ki'ii  liiin  alxnit  tlu'  atl'aii  ut'  ralin,  ami  said,  1  had  been 
infoitnod  that  ho  had  givoii  ii  satisfactory  expluiiatioii  of  every 
sanguinary  act  that  he  had  been  accused  of  having  cmiuiiitteil, 
except  that.  Napoleon  replied,  "I  never  have  been  askt'd  aii\ 
explanation  about  it.  All  that  I  recollect  is,  that  Palm  was 
arrested  by  order  of  Davoust,  I  believe,  tried,  condemned,  and 
shot,  for  having,  \vhi!(>  the  country  was  in  possession  of  the 
French,  and  under  military  occupation,  not  only  excitt'd  rebellion 
amongst  the  inhabitants  and  urged  tliem  to  rise  and  massacre  the 
soldiers,  but  also  attempted  to  instigate  the  soldiers  themselves 
to  refuse  o))edience  to  their  orders,  and  to  mutiny  against  their 
generals.  I  believe  that  he  met  with  a  fair  trial.  "  I  should 
like,"  continued  he,  "to  read  the  principal  libels  which  have  been 
published  against  me  in  England,  if  I  could  get  them  in  French. 
There  is  Peltier,"  added  he,  laughing,  "  who  proves  that  1  was 
mi/se!f  the  contriver  of  the  infernal  machine." 

Major  ITodson  paid  a  visit  to  Countess  Bertrand.  Informed 
her  that  both  himself  and  his  wife  would  be  most  happy  to  call 
frequently  upon  her;  but  that  insinuations  had  been  made  to  him 
that  it  would  not  be  liked  at  Plantation  House. 

15/^. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  gave  directions  to  Captain  Poppletor. 
that  General  Bonaparte,  or  any  of  his  suite  might  go  unaccompa- 
nied along  the  road  to  Woody  Range,  and  to  Miss  Mason's;  but 
that  they  were  not  permitted  to  quit  the  path,  and  that  they 
niight  re-enter  Longwood  at  the  bottom  of  the  wood.  That  the 
two  sentinels  at  the  end  of  the  wood  were  still  to  remain.  He 
then  asked  what  were  the  orders  of  those  sentinels  1  Captain 
Poppleton  replied,  "To  let  no  person  in  or  out  of  Longwood." 
Sir  Hudson  desired  that  those  orders  should  siiU  be  continued  in 
force,  adding,  that  he  did  not  think  that  the  path  by  which  the 
French  were  to  be  permitted  to  enter  was  near  enough  to  the 
sentinels,  to  allow  them  to  interfere  with  them.  He  desired  also 
that  the  sentinels  should  be  posted  a  little  before  sunset. 

Cipriani  in  town,  making  the  usual  purchases  of  provisions. 

16//i. — Saw  the  emperor  in  the  drawing-room.  He  was  in 
extremely  good  spirits,  laughed  repeatedly,  joked  with  me  on  a 
'upposed  attachment  to  a  fair  dams?l,  and  endeavored  to  speak 


1817 — MARCH.  267 

some  English.  Said  that  he  had  seen  Lady  Bingham  the  day 
before,  but  that  she  could  not  speak  French ;  that  she  "  looked 
good  tempered." 

"  Bertrand,"  said  Napoleon,  "  has  told  me  that  the  governor 
has  at  last  sent  up  his  answers.  They  are  full  of  imbecility.  1 
have  not  read  them  myself,  but  from  what  Bertrand  tells  me, 
they  are  a  very  poor  production,  and  would  make  one  pity  the 
writer,  who  covers  over  so  many  pages  without  arriving  at  any 
conclusion.  He  asserts  that  he  never  has  signed  a  pass  for  one 
day  only,  when  the  fact  is,  that  numbers  of  persons  have  shown 
the  passes  signed  by  him  to  Bertrand,  and  pointed  out  to  him 
that  the  day  was  specifically  marked,  and  consequently  begged 
of  him  to  interest  himself  to  induce  me  to  see  them  on  that 
day,  as  they  could  not  enter  Longwood  upon  any  other.  Si  fa 
pieta  di  lui."* 

Napoleon  then  spoke  at  length  about  Talleyrand.  "The  tri- 
umph of  Talleyrand,"  said  he,  "is  the  triumph  of  immorality. 
A  priest  united  to  another  man's  wife,  and  who  has  paid  her  hus- 
band a  large  sum  of  money  to  leave  her  with  him.  A  man  who 
has  sold  every  thing,  betrayed  every  body,  and  every  side.  1 
forbade  Madame  Talleyrand  the  court,  first,  because  she  was  a 
disreputable  character,  and  because  I  found  out  that  some  Genoese 
merchants  had  paid  her  four  hundred  thousand  francs,  in  order  to 
gain  some  commercial  favors  by  means  of  her  husband.  She 
was  a  very  fine  woman,  English  or  East  Indian,  but  sotie  (foolish) 
and  grossly  ignorant.  I  sometimes  asked  Denon,  whose  works 
I  suppose  you  have  read,  to  breakfast  with  me,  as  I  tonk  a  plea- 
sure in  his  conversation,  and  conversed  very  freely  with  him. 
Now  all  the  intriguers  and  speculators  paid  their  court  to  Denon, 
with  a  view  of  inducing  him  to  mention  their  projects  or  them- 
selves in  the  course  of  his  conversations  with  me,  thinking  that 
even  being  mentioned  by  such  a  man  as  Denon,  for  whom  I  had 
a  great  esteem,  might  materially  serve  them.  Talley ;  ;iiid,  who 
was  a  great  speculator,  invited  Denon  to  dinner.  When  he  went 
home  to  his  wife,  he  said,  'My  dear,  I  have  invited  Denon  to 
dine.  He  is  a  great  traveller,  and  you  must  say  something 
*  Meaning;,  tluit  it  innUfts  ^nc  pity  him. 


268  A  VOICE   FROM   ST.    HELENA. 

haiidsoino  to  him  ;>lt(>iit  his  travels,  as  he  may  l)e  usi'fiil  to  ub 
with  thi>  rmporor.'  His  wife  being  extremely  ignorant,  and 
|>n>littl)Iy  never  having  read  any  other  book  of  travels  than  that 
(•f  Kobinson  Crusoe,  coneluded  that  Denon  could  be  nobody  else 
than  Kobinson.  Wishing  t<i  be  very  civil  to  him,  she,  l)efore  a 
large  company,  asked  him  divers  questions  jil)Out  his  man  Friday  ! 
Denon,  astonished,  did  not  know  what  to  think  at  first,  but  at 
ength  discovered  by  her  questions  that  she  really  imagined  him 
to  be  Robinson  Crusoe.  His  astonishment  and  that  of  the  com- 
pany cannot  be  described,  nor  the  peals  of  laughter  which  it 
excited  in  Paris,  as  the  story  flew  like  wildfire  through  the  city, 
and  even  Talleyrand  himself  was  ashamed  of  it. 

"The  doctor  has  said,"  continued  he,  "that  I  turned  Mahome- 
tan in  Egypt.  Now  it  is  not  the  case.  I  never  followed  any  of 
the  tenets  of  that  religion.  I  never  prayed  in  the  mosques.  1 
never  abstained  from  wine,  or  was  circumcised ;  neither  did  I 
ever  profess  it.  I  said  merely  that  we  were  the  friends  of  the 
Mussulmcn,  and  that  I  respected  Mahomet  their  prophet,  which 
was  true  :  I  respect  him  now.  I  wanted  to  make  the  Imans  cause 
prayers  to  be  ofTered  up  in  the  mosques  for  me,  in  order  to  make 
the  people  respect  me  still  more  than  they  actually  did,  and  ol)ey 
me  more  readily.  The  Imans  replied  that  there  was  a  great  ob- 
stacle, because  their  prophet  in  the  Koran  had  inculcated  to  them 
that  they  were  not  to  obey,  respect,  or  hold  faith  with  infidels, 
and  that  I  came  under  that  denomination.  1  then  desired  them 
to  hold  a  consultation,  and  see  what  was  necessary  to  be  done  in 
order  to  become  a  Mussulman,  as  some  of  their  tenets  could  not 
be  practiced  by  us.  That  as  to  circumcision,  God  had  made  us 
unfit  for  that.  That  with  respect  to  drinking  wine,  we  were  pour 
cold  people,  inhabitants  of  the  north,  who  could  not  exist  with 
out  it.  Therefore  that  we  could  neither  circumcise  nor  abstain 
from  wine.  They  consulted  together  accordingly,  and  in  about 
three  weeks  issued  a  Fetham,  declaring  that  circumcision  might 
be  omitted,  because  it  was  merely  a  profession  ;  that  as  to  drink- 
ing wine,  it  might  be  drunk  by  Mussulmen,  but  that  those  who 
drank  it  would  not  go  to  paradise,  but  to  hell.  I  replied  that 
this  would   not  do;  that  wr  had   no  occasion  to  make  ourselve^i 


1817 — MARCH.  269 

Mussulmen,  in  order  to  go  to  hell,  that  there  were  many  ways  of 
getting  thei-e  without  coming  to  Egypt,  and  desired  them  to  hold 
another  consultation.  Well,  after  deliberating  and  battling  to- 
gether for  I  believe  three  months,  they  finally  decided  that  a  man 
might  become  a  Mussulman,  and  neither  circumcise,  nor  abstain 
from  wine  ;  but  that  in  proportion  to  the  wine  drunk,  some  good 
works  must  be  done,  I  then  told  them  that  we  were  all  Mussul- 
men and  friends  of  the  prophet,  which  they  readily  believed,  as 
the  French  soldiers  never  went  to  church,  and  had  no  priest  with 
them.  For  you  must  know  that  during  the  revolution,  there  was 
no  religion  whatever  in  the  French  army.  Menou,"  continued 
Napoleon,  "  really  turned  Mahometan,  which  was  the  reason  that 
I  left  him  behind." 

He  then  spoke  about  some  of  the  plans  that  he  had  had  in  con- 
templation for  making  canals  of  communication  in  Egypt.  "  I 
intended,"  said  he,  "  to  have  made  two,  one  from  the  Eed  Sea 
to  the  Nile  at  Cairo,  and  the  other  to  the  Mediterranean.  1  had 
the  Red  Sea  surveyed,  and  found  that  the  waters  of  it  were 
thirty  feet  higher  than  the  Mediterranean  when  the  waters  were 
highest,  but  only  twenty-four  at  the  lowest.  My  plan  was  to 
have  prevented  any  water  from  flowing  into  the  canal  unless  at 
low  water,  and  this  in  the  course  of  a  distance  of  thirty  leagues 
in  its  passage  to  the  Mediterranean  would  have  been  of  little 
consequence.  Besides,  I  would  have  had  some  sluices  made. 
The  Nile  was  seven  feet  lower  than  the  Red  Sea,  when  at  its 
lowest,  but  fourteen  feet  higher  (I  think  he  said)  during  the  in- 
undation. The  expense  was  calculated  at  eighteen  millions  of 
francs,  and  two  years  labor.  It  is  only,"  continued  he,  "  the 
ignorance  and  barbarity  of  the  Turks  which  prevents  your  India 
trade  from  being  ruined.  If  any  European  nation  had  possession 
of  Egypt,  it  would  speedily  be  effected,  and  one  day  or  another 
Egypt  will  destroy  the  East  India  Company.  If  K]el)er  had 
lived  you  would  never  have  conquered  it.  He  would  have  had 
the  army  down  from  Cairo  in  nine  days,  and  would  have  over- 
whelmed you.  If  I  had  been  there  myself,  I  would  have  brought 
tihe  troops  down  in  seven  days,  and  have  been  on  the  coast  before 


270  A    VOTCK    KHOM    ST.    HKLENA. 

you  had   disoinl>:irked.      I   liad   done   su   ln-foii',  wlu-n  the  TuikR 
landed  witli  Sydiioy  Smith." 

I  asked  it'  lir  had  not  saved  Menou's  life,  after  the  IJJth  of 
Vondeniiaire?  He  replied,  "  I  certainly  was  the  means  of  saving 
his  life.  The  Convention  ordered  him  to  be  tried,  and  he  would 
have  been  guillotined;  I  was  then  commander-in-ehief  of  Paris. 
Thinking  it  very  unjust  that  Menoii  only  should  suil'er,  while 
three  continisnairis  of  the  Convention,  under  whose  orders  he 
acted,  were  left  untried  and  iiii|>uiiished  ;  hut  not  venturing  to 
say  ojteidy  that  he  ought  to  l)e  acquitted,  (for,"  continued  he, 
'•in  those  terrible  times,  a  man  who  told  the  truth,  lost  his  head,) 
1  had  recourse  to  a  stratagem.  I  invited  the  members,  who  were 
trying  him,  to  breakfast,  and  turned  the  conversation  upon 
Menou.  I  said,  that  he  had  acted  very  wrong,  and  deserved  to 
be  condemned  to  death  ;  but  that  first,  the  commissioners  of  the 
Convention  must  be  tried  and  condemned,  as  he  had  acted  by 
their  orders,  and  all  must  suffer.  This  had  the  desired  effect. 
The  members  of  the  court  said,  *  We  will  not  allow  those  civi- 
lians to  bathe  themselves  in  our  blood,  while  they  allow  their 
own  commissioners,  who  are  more  culpable,  to  escape  with  im- 
punity.' Menou  was  immediately  declared  innocent."  I  then 
asked  how  many  men  he  supposed  had  lost  their  lives  in  the 
business  of  the  13th  Vendemiare  ?  He  replied,  "  Very  few,  con- 
sidering the  circumstances.  Of  the  people,  there  were  about 
seventy  or  eighty  killed,  and  between  three  and  four  hundred 
wounded  ;  of  the  conventionalists,  about  thirty  killed,  and  two 
hundred  and  fifty  wounded.  The  reason  there  was  so  few  killed, 
was,  that  after  the  first  two  discharges,  I  made  the  troops  load 
nith  powder  only,  which  had  the  eflect  of  frightening  the  Pari- 
sians, and  answered  as  well  as  killing  them  would  have  done. 
T  made  the  troops,  at  first,  fire  ball,  because  to  a  rabble,  who  ara 
ignorant  of  the  effect  of  fire-arms,  it  is  the  worst  possible  policy 
to  fire  powder  only  in  the  beginning.  For  the  populace  after  the 
first  discharge,  hearing  a  great  noise,  are  a  little  frightened,  but 
looking  around  them,  and  seeing  nobody  killed  or  wounded, 
pluck  up  their  spirits,  begin  immediately  to  despise  you,  become 
doubly  outrageous,  and  rush  on  without  fear,  and  it  is  necessary 


18T7— MARCH.  ^71 

to  kill  ten  times  the  number  that  would  have  been  done,  had 
ball  been  used  at  first.  For,  with  a  rabble,  every  thing  depends 
upon  the  first  impressions  made  upon  them.  If  they  receive  a 
discharge  of  fire-arms,  and  perceive  the  killed  and  wounded 
falling  amongst  them,  a  panic  seizes  them,  they  take  to  their 
heels  instantly,  and  vanish  in  a  moment.  Therefore,  when  it  is 
necessary  to  fire  at  all,  it  ought  to  be  done  with  ball  first.  It  is 
a  mistaken  piece  of  humanity,  to  use  powder  only  at  that  moment, 
and  instead  of  saving  the  lives  of  men,  ultimately  causes  an  un- 
recessary  waste  of  human  blood." 

\lth. — Napoleon  walked  round  the  house  for  a  short  time. 

A  letter  written  by  Captain  Poppleton  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe, 
informing  his  excellency  that  the  horses  of  the  establishment  had 
been  three  days  without  receiving  any  hay,  and  that  fur  a  length 
of  time  they  had  had  no  litter.  Also,  that  the  stuff  sent  as  hay, 
was  grass  recently  cut,  with  occasionally  a  large  portion  of  cow- 
grass*  mixed  with  it.  That  upon  allowing  fifty  pound  of  the 
said  mis-called  hay  to  dry  for  two  days,  it  only  weighed,  with  the 
rope  which  bound  it,  twenty  pounds,  according  to  a  very  accurate 
trial  made  by  himself  That,  in  consequence,  he  had  directed 
the  grooms  to  go  and  cut  some  grass  if  they  could  find  any,  as 
the  horses  were  starving. 

\Qth. — Napoleon  in  very  good  humor.  Joked  with  me  for 
some  time  about  St.  Patrick,  and  endeavored  to  speak  some 
English,  in  which  he  succeeded  better  than  I  have  ever  observed 
before.  I  said,  that  I  had  remarked  in  some  of  the  French 
bulletins,  divers  of  his  expressions.  That  from  having  had  the 
honor  of  being  accustomed  to  speak  to  him,  I  had  recognized 
some  of  them,  and  took  the  liberty  of  asking  him  if  he  had  not 
occasionally  written  them?  He  replied,  "Where  have  you  seen 
them  f  I  answered,  at  the  governor's,  and  that  I  had  particu- 
larly remarked  his  forcible  expressions  in  the  bulletin,  announc- 
ing the  burning  of  Moscow.  He  laughed,  gave  me  a  gentle  pull 
by  the  ear,  and  said,  "  You  are  right.     Some  of  them  are  mine." 

Napoleon  then  observed,  "Your  ministers  will  not  be  able  to 
impose  always  upon  the  nation.  Because  they  are  afraid  of  me, 
*  A  specien  of  inferior  coarse  gnuis,  wliieli  liorHCs  will  not  eat. 


272  A   VOICE   FROM  ST.   HKl.ENA. 

and  think  thut  I  luivi"  somo  talent,  uiid  because  I  have  been 
always  at  war  with  them,  ami  that  I  have  made  France  <;ieater 
than  ever  she  was  \>efore,  they  thinit  that  I  might  do  si»  again, 
and  as  any  thing  for  the  advantage  of  France  would  be  disad- 
vantageous to  them,  they  endeavor  by  all  means  to  prevent  it, 
l)y  putting  a  set  of  imhiciles  on  the  throne,  undir  whom  France 
must  nt>cessarily  decay.  In  order  to  find  an  excuse  for  sending 
me  here,  and  to  give  a  color  to  their  proceedings,  they  seek  all 
means  of  blackening  my  character.  Mark  me,  the  English  them- 
selves will  be  the  first  to  justify  me,  and  to  vindicate  my  char- 
acter from  the  calumnies  which  their  ministers  have  thrown  upon 
it.  Posterity  will  revenge  me.  Recollect  my  words,  and  recol- 
lect that  this  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  told  you  so." 

"  I  am  told,"  added  he,  "  that  there  is  twenty  thousand  pounds 
worth  of  iron  railing  sent  out.  It  is  money  thrown  into  the  sea. 
Before  this  railing  can  be  fixed  up  here,  I  shall  be  under  ground, 
for  I  am  sure  that  I  shall  not  hold  out  more  than  two  years  under 
the  treatment  which  I  experience." 

"  If,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  my  greatest  enemies  knew  the  way 
in  which  I  am  treated,  they  would  compassionate  me.  Millions 
in  Europe  will  weep  for  my  lot  when  it  is  known,  and  known  it 
will  be,  in  spite  of  the  endeavors  of  this  governor  to  envelop 
every  thing  in  secrecy  and  mystery.  He  shows  how  little  he 
knows  of  England  by  thinking  to  effect  this.  A  man  who  has 
always  been  accustomed  to  be  amongst  a  set  of  low  vagabond 
deserters  and  brigands,  where  his  word  was  a  law.  On  a  band 
of  poor  ignorant  wretches  like  those,  who  trembled  at  the  sight 
of  him,  and  whom  he  could  threaten  to  send  back  to  their  own 
country  to  be  shot,  he  might  impose  secrecy.  Like  a  man  put- 
ting his  hat  over  a  candle,  he  could  then  conceal  the  light,  but 
now  his  endeavors  resemble  those  of  one  who  would  attempt  to 
obscure  and  hide  the  light  of  the  sun  hy  holding  his  hat  before  it. 
lie  has  nothing  English  about  him,  either  within  or  without.  He 
badly  serves  his  government,  who  are  desirous  that  as  little  as 
possible  should  he.  said  about  me,  but  he  takes  the  most  certain 
method  of  effecting  the  contrary.'' 

Sir  Hudson  Lowe  vov\  busy  inspecting  the  ditches  and  othei 


1817 — MARCH.  273 

works  he  had  ordered  to  be  thrown  up  about  Longwood  House 
and  the  stables. 

19^/i. — Saw  Napoleon  in  his  bath.  He  was  reading  a  little 
book,  which  I  perceived  to  be  a  French  New  Testament.  1  could 
not  help  observing  to  him,  that  many  people  would  not  believe 
that  he  would  read  such  a  book,  as  it  had  been  asserted  and 
credited  by  some  that  he  was  an  unbeliever.  Napoleon  laughed, 
and  replied,  '"'■  Cependant  ce  n''est  pas  vrai.  Je  suis  loin  iVetre 
Athee. — (Nevertheless,  it  is  not  true.  I  am  f;ir  from  being  an 
Atheist.)  In  spite  of  all  the  iniquities  and  frauds  of  the  teachers 
of  religion,  who  are  eternally  preaching  up  that  their  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world,  and  yet  seize  every  thing  which  they  can  lay 
their  hands  upon,  from  the  time  that  I  arrived  at  the  head  of  the 
government,  I  did  everything  in  my  power  to  re-establish  reli- 
gion. But  I  wished  to  render  it  the  foundation  and  prop  of  mo- 
rality and  good  principles,  and  not  a  prendre  Vessor  (to  soar 
above)  the  human  laws.  Man  has  need  of  something  wonderful. 
It  is  better  for  him  to  seek  it  in  religion  than  in  Mile,  le  Nor- 
mand.*  Moreover,  religion  is  a  great  consolation  and  resource 
to  those  who  possess  it,  and  no  man  can  pronounce  what  he  will 
do  in  his  last  moments." 

Napoleon  then  made  some  remarks  upon  the  conduct  of  the 
governor,  whom  he  declared  to  be  a  man  totally  unfit  for  his 
situation.  "  If  he  were,"  said  he,  "  he  might  make  it  pleasant 
and  interesting.  He  might  spend  much  of  his  time  with  me,  and 
get  great  information  with  respect  to  past  occurrences,  with 
which  no  other  person  could  be  so  well  acquainted,  or  so  satis- 
factorily account  for.  You  see  what  I  am,  dottore  (doctor). 
Even  unknown  to  myself,  he  would  imperceptibly  have  opportu- 
nities of  getting  information  from  me,  which  would  be  very  de- 
sirable to  your  ministers,  and  which  I  am  certain  they  have 
ordered  him  to  obtain,  and  that  he  burns  to  know.  If  I  had 
really  any  intention  of  effecting  my  escape  from  this  place,  instead 
of  disagreeing  with  him,  I  would  caress  and  flatter  him,  endeavor 
to  be  on  the  best  terms,  go  to  Plantation  House,  call  on  his  wife, 
and  try  to  make  him  believe  that  I  was  contented,  and  thereby 

*  A  celebrated  fortune-teller  at  Paris,  consulted  by  emperors  and  kiu^^ 
12* 


274  A    VOICK    KUOM    ST.    llEIiENA. 

lull  his  suspicions  asleep.  In  fact,  tliis  governor,  e  tin  imhecili 
the  ta  scriverc  (he  is  an  imbecile  who  knt)ws  how  to  write). 
Every  por.^on,  however  imbecile,  has  some  kind  of  talent:  one 
for  music,  another  for  drawing,  another  for  some  mechanical  art, 
and  this  imliccile  ft)rwriting  [per  lu  acriverc.'^) 

I  saitl,  tliat  1  could  not  deny  that  Sir  Hudson  Lowe  was  hasty, 
and  allowed  the  fear  of  his  (Napoleon's)  making  his  escape  to 
get  the  better  of  his  understanding,  but  that  he  was  not  devoid 
of  talent.  That  he  had  said,  his  situation  was  one  of  great  deli- 
cacy, his  responsibility  great,  and  his  orders  rigid.  That  he  had 
desired  me  to  say,  that  Las  Cases  had  confessed  that  the  French 
about  his  person  had  made  him  see  every  thing  par  uii  voile  de 
sang*  (in  a  hideous  light).  "Zes  betes  ineme  oat  leiir  talents'''' 
(even  the  beasts  have  their  talents),  replied  the  emperor.  "  As 
to  his  saying  that  I  was  made  to  see  every  thing  a  travers  (Tun 
voile  de  sang,  ma  foi,  partout  ok  Von  voit  le  bourreau,  on  voit  le 
sarig  (through  a  veil  of  blood ;  surely  wherever  we  see  an  execu- 
tioner we  see  blood).  Las  Cases  certainly  was  greatly  irritated 
against  him,  and  contributed  materially  towards  forming  the 
impression  existing  upon  my  mind,  because  Las  Cases  is  a  man 
of  a  feeling  mind,  and  extremely  sensible  to  the  ill  treatmenL 
which  has  been  put  in  practice  towards  me  and  himself.  But  1 
had  no  occasion  for  the  assistance  of  Las  Cases  towards  giving 
me  that  opinion,  as  the  treatment  I  experienced  was  fully  suffi- 
cient in  itself  to  create  it,  and  Montholon  has  merely  written 
according  to  my  orders." 

20//'. — Saw  Napoleon  in  his  bed-room  in  his  morning-gown, 
lie  spoke  at  length  about  some  statements  in  Warden's  book. 
•'  At  one  time  I  had  appointed  Talleyrand,"  said  he,  "  to  proceed 
on  a  mission  to  Warsaw,  in  order  to  arrange  and  organize  the 
best  method  of  accomplishing  the  separation  of  Poland  from 
Russia.  He  had  several  conferences  with  me  respecting  this 
mission,  which  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  ministers,  as  Talley- 
rand had  no  official  character  at  the  time.  Having  married  one 
of  his  relations  to  the  Duchess  of  Courland,  Talleyrand  was  very 
anxious  to  receive  the  appointment,  in  order  to  revive  the  claims 

*  Literally,  throujrh  a  veil  of  blood. 


1S\1 — MARCH.  276 

of  the  Duchess'  family.  However,  some  money  transactions  of 
his  were  discovered  at  Vienna,  which  convinced  me  that  he  was 
carrying  on  his  old  game  of  corruption,  and  determined  me  not 
to  employ  him  on  the  intended  mission,  I  had  designed  at  one 
lime  to  have  made  him  a  cardinal,  with  which  he  refused  to  com- 
ply. Madame  Grant  threw  herself  twice  upon  her  knees  before 
me,  in  order  to  obtain  permission  to  marry  him,  which  I  refused ; 
but  through  the  entreaties  of  Josephine,  she  succeeded  on  the 
second  application.  1  afterwards  forbade  her  the  court  when  1 
discovered  the  Genoa  affiiir,  of  which  I  told  you  before.  Lat- 
terly," continued  he,  "Tallepand  sunk  into  contempt." 

"  Ney,"  said  he  "never  made  use  of  haughty  language  at  Fon- 
tainbleau  in  my  presence  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  was  always  sub- 
missive before  me,  though  in  my  absence  he  sometimes  broke  out 
into  violence,  as  he  was  a  man  without  education.  If  he  had 
made  use  of  unbecoming  language  towards  me  at  Fontaiubleau, 
the  troops  would  have  torn  him  to  pieces." 

"  Lavalette,"  added  Napoleon,  "  knew  nothing  of  my  intended 
return  from  Elba,  or  of  what  was  hatching  there.  Madame  La- 
valette was  of  the  family  of  Beauharnais.  She  was  a  very  fine 
woman.  Louis,  my  brother,  fell  in  love  with  and  wanted  to  have 
her  ;  to  prevent  which  I  caused  her  to  espouse  Lavalette,  to  whom 
she  was  attached." 

"  When  Lavalette  was  director  of  posts,"  continued  Napoleon, 
"  1  was  desirous  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  sentiments  of 
the  nation  relative  to  my  administration.  1  appointed  twelve 
persons,  all  of  different  ways  of  thinking,  some  jacobins,  others 
royalists,  some  republicans,  imperialists,  &;c.,  with  a  salary  of  a 
thousand  francs  a  month,  whose  business  it  was  to  make  monthly 
reports  to  Lavalette  of  the  opinions  which  they  had  heard  ex- 
pressed, and  their  own,  relative  to  the  public  acts.  These  reports 
were  brought  to  me  unopened  by  Lavalette.  After  reading,  and 
making  extracts  when  necessary,  I  burned  them.  This  was  con- 
ducted so  secretly,  that  even  the  ministers  did  not  know  of  it." 

Napoleon  added  that  he  had  never  told  Ney  that  he  had  en- 
tered France  with  the  privity  and  support  of  England  ;  that  on 
the  contrary  he  had  always  disclaimed  and  reprobated  the  idea 


276  A   VOICE   Ki:OM   st.   hei.kni. 

of  returning  by  tho  aid  of  fori'lgii  bayonets,  and  had  come  pur- 
posely to  overturn  a  dynast}  upheld  by  them.  That  all  he  looked 
for  was  the  support  of  the  French  nation,  to  which  all  his  pro- 
clamations wmild  bear  witness.  lie  afterwards  delivered  the 
following  history  of  Pichegru's  conspiracy  : 

"  The  doctor  has  given  a  very  imperfect  account  of  the  part 
taken  l-y  Captain  Wright  in  the  conspiracy  against  me.  hi  dif 
ferent  nights  of  August,  September,  and  December,  1803,  and 
January,  1804,  Wright  landed  Georges,  Pichegru,  Riviere,  Coster, 
St.  Victor,  La  Ilaye,  St.  Ililaire,  and  others,  at  Beville.  The 
four  last  named  had  been  accomplices  in  the  former  attempt  to 
assassinate  me  by  means  of  the  infernal  machine,  and  most  of 
the  rest  were  well  known  to  be  chiefs  of  the  Chouans.  They  re 
mained  during  the  day  in  a  little  farm-house  near  to  where  they 
had  landed,  the  proprietor  of  which  had  been  bribed  to  assist 
them.  They  traveled  only  by  night,  pretending  to  be  smugglers, 
concealing  themselves  in  the  day  time  in  lodgings  which  had 
been  previously  procured  for  them.  They  had  plenty  of  money, 
and  remained  at  Paris  for  some  time  without  being  discovered, 
although  the  police  had  some  intimation  that  a  plot  was  going 
on,  through  Mehee  de  la  Touche,  who,  though  paid  as  a  spy  by 
your  ministers,*  disclosed  everything  to  the  French  police.  He 
had  several  conferences  with  Drake,  your  charge  d'affaires  at 
Munich,  from  whom  he  received  large  sums  of  money.  Some 
of  the  brigands  who  had  been  landed,  were  arrested  and  interro- 
gated. By  their  answers,  it  appeared  that  a  man  named  Mussey, 
who  lived  at  Offembourg,  along  with  the  Due  d'Enghien,  was 
very  active  in  corresponding  with  and  sending  money  to  those 
who  had  been  secretly  landed  on  the  coast ;  and  most  of  whom 
could  give  no  good  reason  why  they  had  ventured  to  return  to 
Paris  at  the  imminent  hazard  of  their  lives,  as  they  had  not  been 
included  in  the  amnesty.  The  list  of  the  prisoners  and  their 
answers  on  examination  were  submitted  to  me.  I  was  very 
anxious ;  and,  on  looking  over  it  one  night,  I  remarked  that  one 
of  the  number,  named  Querel,  was  stated  to  be  a  surgeon.     It 

*  Napoleon  informed  me  that  Mehee  had  received  from  Mr.  Drake  and  otb«t 
official  persons  nearly  200,000  francp. 


1817 — MARCH.  277 

immediately  struck  me,  This  man  is  not  actuated  by  enthusiasm, 
or  by  a  spirit  of  party,  but  by  the  hope  of  gain.  He  will  there- 
fore be  more  likely  to  confess  than  any  of  the  others  ;  and  the 
fear  of  death  will  probably  induce  him  to  betray  his  accomplices. 
I  ordered  him  to  be  tried  as  a  Chouan  ;  and,  according  to  the 
laws,  he  was  condemned  to  death.  It  was  not  a  mock  trial,  n- 
Warden  thought:  on  the  contrary,  while  leading  "^o  execution, 
he  demanded  to  be  heard,  and  promised  to  make  important  dis- 
closures. Information  of  this  was  brought  to  me  by  Lauriston, 
and  Querel  was  conducted  back  to  prison,  where  he  was  interro- 
gated by  the  grand  j'adge  Real.  He  confessed  that  he  had  come 
from  England,  and  had  been  landed  in  August,  1803,  from 
Wright's  ship,  along  with  Georges  and  several  others.  That 
Georges  was  then  in  Paris,  planning  the  assassination  of  the 
first  consul.  He  also  pointed  out  the  houses  where  the  other 
conspirators  and  himself  had  stopped  on  their  way  to  Paris. 
Police  officers  were  immediately  sent  to  the  place  he  had  desig- 
nated ;  and  from  the  result  of  their  inquiries,  it  appeared  that  he 
had  told  the  truth,  and  that  since  the  time  he  had  described,  two 
other  landings  of  similar  gentry  had  been  effected  by  Wright, 
with  the  last  of  whom  there  had  been  some  person  of  conse- 
quence whose  name  they  could  not  discover,  and  that  they  soon 
expected  another  cargo.  The  Duke  of  Rovigo,  as  I  told  you 
once  before,  was  immediately  sent  to  Beville  with  a  party  of  the 
police,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  seize  them.  An  emigrant, 
named  Bouvet  de  Lozier,  who  has  since  been  employed  at  the 
Isle  of  France,  was  also  arrested.  After  he  had  been  confined 
for  some  weeks  he  became  desperate  and  hung  himself  in  tlu' 
prison  one  morning.  The  gaoler,  who  heard  an  uncommon  noise 
in  his  room,  went  in  and  cut  him  down  before  life  had  departed. 
While  he  was  recovering  his  senses,  he  burst  out  into  incoherent 
exclamations,  that  Moreau  had  brought  Pichegru  from  London. 
That  he  was  a  traitor,  and  had  persuaded  them  that  all  the 
army  were  for  him,  and  that  he  would  prove  the  cause  of  their 
destruction.  Those  expressions  excited  an  alarm.  The  police 
knew  that  a  brother  of  Pichegru's,  who  had  once  been  a  monk, 
lived   in   Paris.     He  was  arrested  and  examined.     He  avowed 


278  A  VOICE   FKOM    ST.    11  ELENA. 

that  he  had  seen  his  brother  a  day  or  two  before,  and  asked  if  it 
were  a  crime.  Moreau  was  immediately  arrested,  and  large 
rewards  were  ofTered  by  the  police  for  the  apprehension  of 
Georges  and  Piehcgru.  Pichegru  was  betrayed  by  one  of  his 
i>ld  friends,  who  eamc  to  the  polico  and  offered  to  deliver  him 
into  their  hands  for  a  hnndred  thousand  francs  paid  m  the  spot. 
Georges  still  continued  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  the  police.  I 
proclaimed  the  city  of  Paris  to  be  in  a  state  of  siege,  and  no 
person  was  allowed  to  quit  it  unless  by  day,  and  through  certain 
barriers,  where  were  stationed  people  to  whom  the  j)ersons  of 
the  conspirators  were  familiar.  About  three  weeks  afterwards, 
Georges  was  betrayed  and  taken,  after  having  shot  one  of  the 
men  who  tried  to  arrest  him.  All  his  accomplices  were  subse- 
quently taken.  Pichegru  did  not  deny  having  been  employed 
by  the  Bourbons,  and  behaved  with  great  audacity.  Afterwards, 
finding  his  case  desperate,  he  strangled  himself  in  the  prison. 
The  rest  of  the  conspirators  were  publicly  tried  in  the  month  of 
May  before  the  tribunal  of  the  department  of  the  Seine,  and  in 
the  presence  of  all  the  foreign  ambassadors  in  Paris.  Georges, 
Polignac,  Riviere,  Coster,  and  sixteen  or  seventeen  others,  were 
found  guilty  of  having  conspired  against  the  life  of  the  chief  ma- 
gistrate of  the  French  nation,  and  condemned  to  death.  Georges, 
Coster,  and  seven  or  eight  more,  were  executed.  Riviere  was 
pardoned,  partly  by  the  prayers  of  Murat.  I  pardoned  some 
of  the  others  also.  Moreau  was  condemned  to  two  years  im- 
prisonment, which  was  commuted  into  banishment  to  America. 
Jules  de  Polignac,  confidant  of  the  Count  d'Artois,  and  many 
others,  were  also  condemned  to  imprisonment. 

"  It  was  found  out,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  by  the  confession 
of  some  of  the  conspirators,  that  the  Due  d'Enghien  was  an  ac- 
complice, and  that  he  was  only  waiting  on  the  frontiers  of 
France  for  the  news  of  my  assassination,  upon  receiving  which 
he  was  to  have  entered  France  as  the  king's  lieutenant.  Was  I 
to  suffer  that  the  Count  d'Artois  should  send  a  parcel  of  mis- 
creants to  murder  me,  and  that  a  prince  of  his  house  should  hover 
on  the  borders  of  the  country  I  governed  in  order  to  profit  by 
my  assassination^     According   to  the   laws   of  nature,    I   was 


1811 — MARCH.  279 

•uthorized  to  cause  him  to  be  assassinated  in  retaliation  for  the 
numerous  attempts  of  the  kind  that  he  had  before  caused  to  be 
made  against  me.  I  gave  orders  to  have  him  seized.  He  was 
tried  and  condemned  by  a  law  made  long  before  I  had  any 
power  in  France.  He  was  tried  by  a  military  commission 
formed  of  all  the  colonels  of  the  regiments  then  in  garrison  at 
Paris.  He  was  accused  of  having  borne  arms  against  the  re- 
public, which  he  did  not  deny.  When  before  the  tribunal,  he 
behaved  with  great  bravery.  When  he  arrived  at  Strasburg,  he 
wrote  a  letter  to  me,  in  which  he  offered  to  discover  every  thing 
if  pardon  were  granted  to  him,  said  that  his  family  had  lost  their 
claims  for  a  long  time,  and  concluded  by  offering  his  services  to 
me.  This  letter  was  delivered  to  Talleyrand,  who  concealed  it 
until  after  his  execution.  Had  the  Count  d'Artois  been  in  his 
place,  he  would  have  suffered  the  same  fate ;  and  were  I  now 
placed  under  similar  circumstances,  I  would  act  in  a  similar 
manner.  As  the  police,"  added  Napoleon,  "  did  not  like  to 
trust  to  the  evidence  of  Mehee  de  la  Touche  alone,  they  sent 
Captain  Rosey,  a  man  in  whose  integrity  they  had  every  confi- 
dence, to  Drake  at  Munich,  with  a  letter  from  Mehee,  which  pro- 
cured him  an  interview,  the  result  of  which  confirmed  Mehee's 
statement,  that  he  was  concerned  in  a  plot  to  terraser  le  premier 
consul,  (overthrow  the  First  Consul,)  no  matter  by  what  means."* 

23rrf. — Napoleon  dressed  and  in  the  billiard-room.  In  very 
good  humor.  Gave  him  some  libels  upon  himself.  They  were 
all  in  French,  and  amongst  others  was  "  Memoires  secrets,^* 
" £onaparte  2)cin(  ^;o/-  iui-meme,''^  (Secret  Memoirs — Bonapaite 
drawn  by  himself,)  which  excited  his  laughter. 

Napolen  then  asked  several  questions  about  the  governor.  1 
said  that  Sir  Hudson  had  desired  me  to  say,  a  few  days  ago,  that 
he  had  every  wish  to  accommodate,  and   that  he  thought  that 

*  While  the  Due  d'Eiif^liien  was  on  his  trial,  Maduiiic  la  Marcschal  Bessifire 
said  to  Colonel  Ordcncr,  who  had  arrested  liini,  "  Are  there  no  possible  means 
to  save  that  malheureux ?  Has  his  guilt  been  established  beyond  a  doubt?" 
"  Madame,"  rejilicd  Ordcner,  "  1  found  in  his  house  sacks  of  jinper  sufiiciunt  to 
compromise  the  lialf  of  France."  The  duke  was  executed  in  the  iJioruiri((,  and 
not  by  torch-light,  as  has  been  represented. 


280  A    VUlCK    FKtiM    SI'.    JIKLKNA. 

Las  Cjisos,  Warden,  and  Mrs.  Skilton,*  and  some  otnors,  h«d 
boiMi  tho  nu>ans  of  producing  nuich  ill-blood,  and  a  great  deal  of 
misundorstaiuling.  Napoleon  replied,  "  S^iuf/antia,  (he  is  de- 
eoived.)  in  the  first  place,  it  was  the  badness  of  his  physiogno- 
nie ;  {era  sua  caitiva  facia ;)  next,  his  wanting  to  force  mc  to 
receive  the  visit  of  au  ollicer  twice  in  the  twenty-four  hours; 
then  the  letter  to  Bertrand  ;  his  wishing  that  1  should  send  you 
away,  and  to  give  me  a  surgeon  of  his  own  choice;  the  manner 
in  which  he  spoke  to  me  aliout  the  wooden  house;  his  letters 
full  of  softness,  accompanying  the  train  of  vexations  which  follov- 
ed ;  and  his  always  leaving  something  doubtful  w-hich  he  could 
afterwards  interpret  as  best  suited  his  views.  In  fact,  he  wanted, 
by  showing  that  he  could  render  things  disagreeable,  to  compel 
us  to  bend,  and  submissively  demand  pardon  of  him,  go  to  Plan- 
tation House,  and  be  his  very  humble  servants." 

"It  appears  that  Warden  has  been  informed,"  added  Napoleon, 
"that  I  applied  some  lines  of  Shakspeare  to  Madame  Montholon. 
You  well  know  that  1  could  not  then,  nor  can  1  now,  quote  Eng- 
lish verse,  nor  have  I  ever  intended  to  convey  a  reflection  on 
Madame  Montholon.  On  the  contrary,  I  think  that  she  possesses 
more  firmness  and  caractere  (decision)  than  most  of  her  sex." 

24ih. — Napoleon  complained  of  swellings  in  his  legs,  for  which 
I  recommended  some  simple  remedies,  which  he  put  in  practice. 

He  afterwards  observed  that  he  had  been  reading  all  yesterday, 
the  Secret  Memoirs  of  himself,  Pichon's  work,  &c.  "These 
libels,"  said  he,  "  have  done  me  more  good  than  harm  in  France, 
because  they  irritated  the  nation  both  against  the  writers,  and  the 
Bourbons,  who  paid  them,  by  representing  me  as  a  monster,  and 
by  the  improbable  and  scandalous  falsehoods  they  contained 
against  me,  and  the  government  under  me,  which  were  degrading 

*  Mrs.  Skelton  was  accused  by  the  jrovernor  of  having  told  Napolc<?n  one  day 
at  dinner,  that  from  exjierience  she  knew  he  would  not  always  find  Longwood 
pleasant.  Tiiat,  at  certain  times  of  the  year,  it  was  a  damp,  disagreeable,  bleak 
and  unhe;iltliy  residence  :  as  a  proof  of  which,  she  mentioned  that  she  never 
could  succeed  in  rearinpr  poultry  there ;  while  down  in  the  company's  frarden, 
Bitnated  in  a  sheltered  valley,  about  four  hundred  yards  distant,  she  had  no 
difficulty  in  bringing  them  up.  Mrs.  Skelton  and  family  had  resided  at  Long- 
ffood  a  few  months  in  each  year  for  four  or  five  years  b«fore  Napoleon  wrivod 


1S17 — MARCH.  2^1 

10  them  as  a  nation.  Even  Chateaubriand  has  done  me  good  bj 
his  work.  Pichon.  the  author  of  the  State  of  France  under  Bo- 
laparte,  had  been  consul  in  America,  and  was  disgraced  by  me 
"br  having  embezzled  three  millions,  part  of  which  he  was  obliged 
CO  refund,  as  I  was  very  particular  with  consuls,  and  other  agents 
;.nd  always  examined  their  accounts  myself.  This  Pichon,  aftei- 
he  had  published  his  libel,  was  sent  by  me  to  London  as  a  spy, 
after  my  return  from  Elba ;  at  least,  he  was  so  far  sent  by  me, 
that  I  suffered  it,  because,  though  he  was  ^m  coguin,  (a  villain,) 
he  had  some  eqjrit,  (genius,)  and  on  account  of  the  nature  of  his 
writings,  would  not  be  suspected.  You  see  what  dependence  is 
to  be  placed  upon  writers  of  libels.  This  man,  who  in  1814,  had 
written  such  a  libel  against  me,  went  in  1815,  as  a  spy  for  the 
police  of  the  very  person  whom  he  had  so  grossly  libeled." 

25th. — Napoleon  in  his  bath.  His  legs  much  better.  In  xery 
good  spirits.  "It  appears,  Mr.  Doctor,"  said  he,  "from  the 
books  you  lent  me,  that  at  a  very  early  age  I  poisoned  a  girl, 
that  I  poisoned  others  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  poisoning ;  that  1 
assassinated  Desaix,  Kleber,  the  Due  of  Abrantes,  and  I  know 
not  how  many  others  :  that  I  went  to  the  army  of  Italy,  consist- 
ing of  some  thousand  galley  slaves,  who'  were  extremely  happy 
to  see  me,  as  being  one  of  their  fraternity.  It  is  surprising  what 
things  are  believed  on  both  sides,  in  consequence  of  not  having 
had  communication  with  each  other.  In  France,  if  a  house  was 
burnt  down,  the  vulgar  attributed  it  to  the  English.  Pitt,  Pitt,  was 
the  cry  directly.  Nothing  could  persuade  the  French  canaille 
that  the  conflagration  at  Lyons  had  not  been  effected  by  the 
Englis,h.  In  like  manner,  you  English  believed  every  thing  bad 
of  me,  which  belief  was  always  encouraged  by  your  ministers. 
Your  *  *  *  *  also,  with  the  exception  of  Fox,  who  was  sincerce 
in  his  desire  for  peace,  encouraged  *  *  *  against  me."  Here  I 
made  some  observations  in  disbelief  of  the  assertion,  to  which 
Napoleon  replied,  "  When  they  furnished  ships  to  land,  and  mo- 
ney to  support  men,  whose  professed  object  was  to  assassinate  me, 
was  not  that  being  privy  to  it?"  I  said  that  they  had  furnished 
shi[)s  and  money  to  assist  in  accomplishing  a  revolution,  but 
without  having  known  that  assassination   formed  part  of  theii 


282  A    VOICK    FlUiM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

plans.  "Doctor,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  you  are  a  child.  They 
knew  it  well.  Fifty  or  si.xty  brigands,  the  most  of  them  notorious 
for  assassination,  could  have  no  other  mode  of  eflecling  a  revolu- 
ti(»n.  Thev  had  repnlilished  in  London,  at  the  same  time,  a  book 
called  "  Killing  no  Murder,^''  which  had  been  originally  printed 
in  Cromwell's  time;  for  the  purpose  of  inculcating  a  belief  that, 
assassinating  me  was  not  only  not  a  crime,  but  that  it  would  be 
a  praiseworthy  and  meritorious  action.  Fox  indeed  was  of  u 
contrary  opinion.  That  great  man  wrote  to  Talleyrand,  and  in- 
formed him  that  a  coquln  had  come  that  morning  to  him  with  a 
proposal  to  assassinate  me." 

""Wiien  1  was  at  Elba,"  added  Napoleon,  "I  was  visited  by  ai 
English  nobleman,  a  Catholic,  about  thirty  years  old,  and  from 
Northumberland,  I  believe.  He  had  dined  a  few  weeks  before 
with  the  Duke  de  Fleury,  with  whom  he  had  a  conversation  rela- 
tive to  the  sum  of  money  to  be  allowed  me  annually  by  France, 
according  to  the  agreement  that  had  been  signed  by  the  ministers 
of  the  allied  powers.  The  duke  laughed  at  him  for  supposing 
for  a  moment  that  it  would  be  complied  with,  and  said  that  they 
were  not  such  fools.  This  was  one  of  the  reasons  which  induced 
me  to  quit  Elba.  1  do  not  believe  that  Castlereagh  thought  1 
would  have  ventured  to  leave  it,  as  otherwise  some  frigates  would 
have  been  stationed  about  the  island.  If  they  had  kept  a  frigate 
in  the  harbor,  and  another  outside,  it  would  have  been  Impossible 
for  me  to  have  gone  to  France,  except  alone,  which  I  never  would 
have  attempted.  If  even  the  king  of  France  had  ordered  a  frigate 
with  a  picked  crew  to  cruise  off  the  island,  it  would  have  pre- 
vented me."  I  asked  if  he  thought  that  it  had  been  the  intention 
of  the  allies  to  have  sent  him  to  St.  Helena?  "Why,"  replied 
the  emperor,  "it  was  much  spoken  of.  However,  Colonel 
Campljell  denied  it.  They  must  have  sent  an  army  to  take  me; 
I  could  have  held  out  for  some  months.  But  there  were  many 
violations  of  the  treaty  of  Fontainbleau  by  the  allies,  which 
authorized  and  obliged  me  to  take  the  step  I  did.  Independent 
of  what  I  have  told  you,  it  was  stipulated  and  agreed  to,  that  all 
the  members  of  my  family  should  be  allowed  to  follow  me  tc 
Elba ;  but  in  violation  of  that,  my  wife  and   child  were  seized, 


1817 — MARCH.  28S 

and  detained,  and  never  permitted  to  join  a  husband  and  a  father. 
They  were  also  to  have  had  the  duchies  of  Parma,  Placentia,  and 
Guastalla,  which  they  were  deprived  of.  By  the  treaty,  Prince 
Eugene  was  to  have  had  a  principality  in  Italy,  which  was  never 
given.  My  mother  and  brother  were  to  have  received  pensions, 
which  were  also  refused  to  them.  My  own  private  property,  and 
the  savings  which  I  had  made  on  the  civil  list,  were  to  have  been 
preserved  for  me.  Instead  of  that,  they  were  seized  in  the  hands 
of  Labouillerie  the  treasurer,  contrary  to  the  treaty,  and  all 
claims  made  by  me  rejected.  The  private  property  of  my  family 
was  to  be  held  sacred ;  it  was  confiscated.  The  donations 
assigned  to  the  army  on  the  Mont  Napoleon  were  to  be  pre- 
served ;  they  were  suppressed ;  nor  were  the  hundi-ed  thousand 
francs,  which  were  to  be  given  as  pensions  to  persons  pointed  out 
by  me,  ever  paid.  Moreover,  assassins  were  sent  to  Elba  to 
murder  me.  Never,"  continued  Napoleon,  "have  the  terms  of  £ 
treaty  been  more  evidently  violated,  and,  indeed,  openly  scoffed 
at,  than  those  were  by  the  allies,  and  yet  your  ministers  have  the 
impudence  to  tell  the  nation  that  I  was  the  first  violator  of  the 
treaty  of  Fountainbleau." 

I  observed  that  the  allies  had  given  as  a  reason  for  their  con- 
duct towards  him,  that  he  had  aimed  at  universal  dominion. 
"  No,"  replied  the  emperor,  "  I  certainly  wished  to  render  France 
the  most  powerful  nation  in  the  world,  but  no  further.  I  did 
not  aim  at  universal  dominion.  It  was  my  intention  to  have 
made  Italy  an  independent  kingdom.  There  are  natural  bounds 
for  France,  which  I  did  not  intend  to  pass.  It  was  my  object  to 
prevent  England  from  being  able  to  go  to  war  with  France, 
without  assistance  from  some  of  the  great  continental  powers, 
without  which,  indeed,  she  ought  never  to  venture." 

Had  some  conversation  about  Ferdinand  of  Spain.  "  When 
Ferdinand  was  at  Valen§ay,"  said  Napoleon,  "he  always  ex- 
pressed great  hatred  of  the  English,  and  declared,  that  the  first 
thing  he  would  do,  on  his  return  to  Spain,  would  be  to  re-establish 
the  Inquisition.  You  English  will  find  one  day,  that  by  restor- 
ing  him,  you  have  done  yourselves  a  great  national  injury. 
While  at  ValenQay,  he   said,  that  he  would   prefer  remaining  ir. 


284  A   VOICK   FROM  ST.    HKLENA. 

Frwu'c,  to  ri'tuniiiii;  tt>  Spain,  aiiil  wintc  several  tiiiKv  .u  me 
Itegging  of  1110  to  adopt  and  give  him  a  Ficiich  woman  ir.  mar 
riago." 

"  1  olisorvo  now,"  added  ho,  "  that  as  your  ministers  and  the 
Bourbonists  cniuiot  any  longer  deny  that  1  have  done  some  good 
•o  France,  they  endeavor  to  turn  it,  by  saying,  that  wliatevor 
good  I  eflected,  was  done  through  the  persuasions  of  Josephine. 
For  example,  they  say  that  it  was  Josephine  who  induced  me  to 
recall  the  emigrants.  Now  the  fact  is,  that  Josephine  was  the 
most  amiable  and  the  best  of  women,  but  she  never  interfered 
with  puliiics.  Their  object  is  to  persuade  the  world  that  1  am 
incapable  of  a  good  action.  But  your  English  travelers  will  pro- 
duce a  great  change  in  the  opinion  of  their  nation." 

Sir  Pulteney  and  Lady  Malcolm,  Captains  Stanfell  and  Fest- 
ing,  of  the  Navy,  came  up  and  had  an  interview  with  Napoleon. 
When  they  came  out,  Captain  *  *  expressed  his  astonishment  at 
finding  Napoleon  so  different  a  person  to  what  he  was  reported. 
"  Instead  of  being  a  rough,  impatient,  and  imperious  character," 
said  he,  "  I  found  him  to  be  mild,  gentle  in  his  manner,  and  one 
of  the  pleasantest  men  I  ever  saw.  I  shall  never  forget  him,  nor 
how  different  he  is  from  the  idea  I  had  been  led  to  form  of  him." 

Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm  expressed  his  ardent  wish  to  me,  that 
matters  might  be  accommodated  between  Napoleon  and  the 
governor,  adding,  that  two  opportunities  of  effecting  it,  would 
soon  present  themselves,  viz.  the  arrival  of  Lord  Amherst,  and 
of  admiral  Plampin  ;  that  he  much  wished  i\\Q.t  both  should  be 
introduced  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  and,  indeed,  thought  that  Lord 
Amherst  could  not  be  introduced  by  any  other  person. 

Najxileon,  accompanied  by  Countesses  Bertrand  and  Mon- 
tholoii  and  their  husbands,  walked  down  into  the  wood.  On 
their  return,  chairs  were  brought  out  and  placed  in  front  of  the 
billiard-room,  where  they  remained  for  some  time  after  sun-set. 

20//<. — Napoleon  conversed  a  good  deal  about  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  "  The  plan  of  the  battle,"  said  he,  "  will  not  in  the 
eyes  of  the  historian  reflect  any  credit  on  Lord  Wellington  as  a 
general.  In  the  first  place,  he  ought  not  to  have  given  battle  with 
the  armies  divided.  They  oii;_'lit  to  have  been  united  and  encamped 


1817— MARCH.  28£ 

Oefbre  the  15th.  In  the  next,  the  choice  of  ground  was  bad  ; 
because  if  he  had  been  beaten  he  could  not  have  retreated,  as 
there  was  only  one  road  leading  to  the  forest  in  his  rear.  He 
also  committed  a  fault  which  might  have  proved  the  destruction 
of  all  his  army,  without  its  ever  having  commenced  the  cam- 
paign, or  being  drawn  out  in  battle ;  he  allowed  himself  to  be 
surprised.  On  the  15th  I  was  at  Charleroi,  and  had  beaten  the 
Prussians  without  his  knowing  any  thing  about  it.  I  had  gained 
forty-eight  hours  of  manoeuvres  upon  him,  which  was  a  great 
object;  and  if  some  of  my  generals  had  shown  that  vigor  and 
genius  which  they  had  displayed  in  other  times,  I  should  have 
taken  his  army  in  cantonments  without  ever  fighting  a  battle. 
But  they  were  discouraged,  and  fancied  that  they  saw  an  army 
of  a  hundred  thousand  men  every  where  opposed  to  them.  I  had 
not  time  enough  myself,  to  attend  to  the  minutice  of  the  army. 
I  reckoned  upon  surprising  and  cutting  them  up  in  detail.  I 
knew  of  Bulow's  arrival  at  eleven  o'clock ;  but  I  did  not  regard 
it.  I  had  still  eighty  chances  out  of  a  hundred  in  my  favor. 
Notwithstanding  the  great  superiority  of  force  against  me,  I  was 
convinced  that  I  should  obtain  the  victory.  I  had  about  seventy 
thousand  men,  of  whom  fifteen  thousand  were  cavalry.  I  had 
also  two  hundred  and  fifty  pieces  of  cannon ;  but  my  troops  were 
so  good,  that  I  esteemed  them  sufficient  to  beat  a  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand.  Now  Lord  Wellington  had  under  his  com- 
mand about  ninety  thousand,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  pieces 
of  cannon  ;  and  Bulow  had  thirty  thousand,  making  a  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand.  Of  all  those  troops,  however,  I  only 
reckoned  the  English  as  being  able  to  cope  with  my  own.  Tlu^ 
others  I  thought  little  of  I  believe  that  of  English  there  were 
from  thirty-five  to  forty  thousand.  These  I  esteemed  to  be  as 
brave  and  as  good  as  my  own  troops  ;  the  English  army  was 
well  known  latterly  on  the  continent ;  and  besides,  your  nation 
possesses  courage  and  energy.  As  to  the  Prussians,  Belgians, 
and  others,  half  the  number  of  my  troops  were  sufficient  to  beat 
them.  1  only  left  thirty-four  thousand  men  to  take  care  of  the 
Prussians.  The  chief  causes  of  the  loss  of  that  battle  were,  first 
of  all,   Grouchy's  great  tardiness,   and    neglect  in  executing  hi? 


28fi  A    XOICK    FROM    ST.    IIKI  EKA. 

orders,  next,  tho  premnliers  a  cheval  (imimUMl  gremidiora)  and 
tlu»  cavalry,  untU>r  (ifiieral  Guyot,  which  I  hud  in  reserve,  and 
whici)  were  never  to  leave  nie,  engaged  without  orders,  and 
withont  my  knowledge,  so  that  after  the  last  charge,  when  the 
trot>ps  were  beaten,  and  the  English  cavalry  advanced,  1  had  not 
a  single  corps  of  cavalry  in  reserve  to  resist  them  ;  instead  of 
one  which  I  esteemed  to  be  equal  to  double  their  own  number. 
In  consequence  of  this,  the  English  attack  succeeded,  and  all  was 
lost.  There  was  no  means  of  rallying.  The  youngest  general 
would  not  have  committed  the  fault  of  leaving  an  army  entirely 
without  reserve,  which  however  occurred  here,  whether  in  conse- 
quence of  treason,  or  not,  I  cannot  say.  These  were  the  two 
principal  causes  of  the  loss  of  the  battle  of  Waterloo." 

"If  Lord  Wellington  had  entrenched  himself,"  continued  he, 
"I  would  not  have  attacked  him.  As  a  general,  his  plan  did  not 
show  talent.  He  certainly  displayed  great  courage  and  obstina- 
cy ;  but  a  little  must  be  taken  away  even  from  that,  when  you 
consider  that  he  had  no  means  of  retreat,  and  that,  had  he  made 
the  attempt,  not  a  man  of  his  army  would  have  escaped.  First, 
to  the  firmness  and  bravery  of  his  troops,  for  the  English  fought 
with  the  greatest  obstinacy  and  courage,  he  is  principally  indebt- 
ed for  the  victory,  and  not  to  his  own  conduct  as  a  general ;  and 
next,  to  the  arrival  of  Blucher,  to  whom  the  victory  is  more  to 
be  attributed  than  to  Wellington,  and  more  credit  due  as  a  gene- 
ral ;  because  he,  though  beaten  the  day  before,  assembled  his 
troops,  and  brought  them  into  action  in  the  evening.  I  believe, 
however,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  that  Wellington  is  a  man  of 
great  firmness.  The  glory  of  such  a  victory  is  a  great  thing; 
but  in  the  eye  of  the  historian,  his  military  reputation  will  gain 
nothing  by  it." 

Napoleon  then  spoke  about  the  libels  upon  himself  which  I  had 
collected  for  him,  "As  yet,"  said  he,  "you  have  n(^t  procured 
me  one  that  is  worthy  of  an  answer.  Would  you  have  me  sit 
down  and  reply  to  Goldsmith,  Pichon,  or  the  Quarterly  Review  ? 
They  are  so  contemptible  and  so  absurdly  false,  that  they  do  not 
merit  any  other  notice  than  to  write  /aw-r,  faux^  (false,  false),  ia 
every  page.     The  only  truth  I  have  seen  in  them  is,  that  one 


1817 — MARCa.  i87 

day  I  met  an  officer,  Rapp,  I  believe,  in  the  field  of  bati.e,  with 
his  face  covered  with  blood,  and  that  I  cried,  Oh,  comme  il  est 
beau!  (oh,  how  beautiful  he  is!)  This  is  true  enough;  and  ot  it 
they  have  made  a  crime.  My  admiration  of  the  gallantry  of  a 
brave  soldier  is  construed  into  a  crime,  and  a  proof  of  my 
delighting  in  blood.  But  posterity  will  do  me  that  justice  which 
is  denied  to  me  now.  If  I  were  that  tyrant,  that  monster,  would 
the  people  and  the  army  have  flown  to  join  me  with  the  enthusi- 
asm they  showed  when  I  landed  from  Elba  with  a  handful  of 
men  ?  Could  I  have  marched  to  Paris,  and  have  seated  myself 
upon  the  throne  without  a  musket  having  been  fired "-  Ask  the 
French  nation.     Ask  the  Italian. 

"I  have,"  continued  he,  "been  twice  married.  Political  mo- 
tives induced  me  to  divorce  my  first  wife,  whom  I  tenderly  loved. 
She,  poor  woman,  fortunately  for  herself,  died  in  time  to  prevent 
her  witnessing  the  last  of  my  misfortunes.  Let  Marie  Louise  be 
asked  with  what  tenderness  and  affection  I  always  treated  her. 
After  her  forcible  separation  from  me,  she  avowed  in  the  most 
feeling  terms  to  *  *  *  her  ardent  desire  to  join  me,  extolled  with 
many  tears  both  myself  and  my  conduct  to  her,  and  bitterly 
lamented  her  cruel  separation,  avowing  her  ardent  desire  to  join 
me  in  my  exile,  fs  this  the  result  of  the  conduct  of  a  merciless, 
unfeeling  tyrant?  A  man  is  known  by  his  conduct  to  his  wife, 
to  his  family,  and  to  those  under  him.  I  have  doubtless  erred 
more  or  less  in  politics,  but  a  crime  I  have  never  committed. 
The  doctor  in  his  book  makes  me  say  that  I  never  committed  a 
useless  crime,  which  is  equivalent  to  saying  that  I  have  not  sen: 
pled  to  commit  one  when  I  had  any  object  in  view,  which  I  deii) 
altogether.  I  have  never  wished  but  the  glory  and  the  good  of 
France.  All  my  faculties  were  consecrated  to  that  object,  but  I 
never  employed  crime  or  assassination  to  forward  it. 

"The  Due  d'Enghien,  who  was  engaged  upon  the  frontiers  of 
my  territories  in  a  plot  to  assassinate  me,  I  caused  to  be  seized 
and  given  up  to  justice,  which  condemned  him.  He  had  a  fair 
trial.  Let  your  ministers  and  the  Bourbons  do  their  utmost  to 
calumniate  me,  and  the  truth  will  be  discovered.  Les  mensong?. 
passe,  la  verite  reste  (a  lie  passes,  i)Ut  truth  remains).     Let  theiu 


2SS  A    VOICK    KlKm    ST.    HKLKN'A. 

cuiph*)-  111]  dishoiioralilt'  tiu-aus  liki-  liord  C  *  *  *  *,  who,  not  oon 
tout  with  stMul'mg  mo  ht-n-,  lias  liad  the  baseness  to  riiake  iiu 
spt'rtk,  and  to  put  siieh  words  into  my  tuoulh  as  he  thinks  will 
best  answer  his  views.  C'\'st  u/i  homine  'ujnuhlc  (he  is  an  ignoble 
n  an).  Perhaps  they  wish  me  to  live  for  a  short  lime  and  dt 
not  put  me  to  death,  in  order  to  make  mo  say  whatever  will  snit 
•hi if  purposes.  The  rnin  of  England  was  never  my  intention. 
\\  e  were  enemies,  and  I  did  my  nlmost  to  gain  the  npper  hand. 
England  did  the  same.  After  the  treaty  oi  Amiens,  I  would 
always  have  made  a  peace,  placing  the  two  countries  upt>n  equal 
terms  as  to  commercial  relations." 

mentioned  that  1  had  conceived  he  had  once  e.vpressed  to  me 
that  his  intentions  had  been  to  have  united  England  and  France, 
if  he  had  found  himself  sufficiently  powerful.  He  replied,  "  I 
said  that  I  could  not  unite  two  nations  so  dissimilar.  I  Intended, 
if  I  had  succeeded  in  my  projected  descent,  to  have  abolished  the 
monarchy,  and  establish  a  republic  instead  of  the  oligarchy  by 
which  y^u  are  governed.  I  would  have  separated  Ireland  from 
England  ,  the  former  of  which  I  would  have  made  an  independent 
republic.  No,  no;  I  would  have  left  them  to  themselves  aftei 
having  sown  the  seeds  of  republicanism  in  their  morale.'''' 

I  told  the  emperor  then,  that  Lord  Amherst,  (the  late  British 
ambassador  to  China,)  was  expected  here  in  a  few  days.  He 
said,  he  thought  the  English  ministers  had  acted  wrong  in  not 
having  ordered  him  to  comply  with  the  customs  of  the  place  he 
was  sent  to,  or  otherwise  not  to  have  sent  him  at  all.  I  observ 
ed,  that  the  English  would  consider  it  as  debasing  to  the  nation, 
if  Lord  Amherst  had  consented  to  prostrate  himself  in  the  man- 
ner required.  That  if  such  a  point  was  conceded,  the  Chinese 
won. J  probably  not  be  contented,  and  would  require  similar 
ceremonies  to  be  performed  as  those  insisted  upon  l»y  the  Ja- 
panese, and  Complied  with  so  disgracefully  by  the  Dutch.  That, 
besides.  Lord  Amherst  was  willing  to  pay  the  same  obeisance  to 
the  emperor,  as  he  would  do  to  his  own  king.  Napoleon  replied, 
'  It  is  quite  a  dilTerent  thing.  One  is  a  mere  ceremony,  perform- 
ed by  all  the  great  men  of  the  nation  to  their  chief,  and  the  other 
is  a  national  degradation  required  of  strangers,  and  of  strangers 


1  SI  7— MARCH.  289 

only.  It  is  iny  opinion,  that  whatever  is  the  cnstom  of  a  nation, 
and  is  practiced  by  the  first  chai'acters  of  that  nation  towards 
their  chief,  cannot  degrade  strangers  who  perforin  the  same. 
Different  nations  have  different  customs.  In  Enghind,  yon  kiss 
the  king's  hand  at  court.  Such  a  thing  in  France,  wouhl  be  con- 
sidered ridiculous,  and  the  ])ersons  who  did  it  wouhl  be  hehl  up 
to  public  scorn  ;  but  still  the  French  ambassador  who  performed 
it  in  England,  would  not  be  considered  to  have  degraded  himself. 
In  England,  some  hundred  years  back,  the  king  was  served  kneel- 
ing, the  same  ceremony  now  takes  place  in  Spain.  In  Italy  you 
kiss  the  pope's  toe,  yet  it  is  not  considered  as  a  degradation.  A 
man  who  goes  into  a  country,  must  comply  with  the  ceremonies 
in  use  there,  and  it  would  have  been  no  degradation  whatever 
for  Lord  Amherst  to  have  submitted  to  such  ceremonies  before 
the  emperor  of  China,  as  are  performed  by  the  first  mandai'ins  of 
that  empire.  You  say,  that  he  was  willing  to  render  such  respect 
as  was  paid  to  his  own  king.  You  have  no  right  to  send  a  man 
to  China  to  tell  them  they  must  perform  certain  ceremonies, 
because  such  are  practiced  in  England.  Suppose  now,  for  the 
sake  of  example,  that  it  were  the  custom  in  England,  instead  of 

kissing  the  king's  hand,  that  he  should  offer  his  breech  to  be  kiss- 
es O  7 

ed  by  those  who  were  presented  to  him  ;  why  then,  foi'sooth,  the 

emperor  of  China  must  let  down  his  breeches ,  because 

it>  was  the  practice  in  England." 

These  observations  were  delivered  with  such  suitable  action, 
and  significant  gestures,  that  I  could  not  help  giving  vent  very 
freely  to  laughter,  for  some  moments,  in  which  the  emperor  very 
good  humoredly  joined. 

"If  I,"  continued  he,  "had  sent  an  ambassador  to  China,  I 
would  have  ordered  him  to  make  himself  acquainted  with  the 
ceremonies  performed  before  the  em^jeror,  by  tlie  first  mandarins ; 
and,  if  required,  to  do  the  same  himself,  and  no  more.  Now, 
perhaps,  you  will  lose  the  friendshij)  of  the  nation,  and  great 
commercial  advantages,  through  this  piece  of  nonsense."  T  said, 
that  we  could  easily  compel  the  Chinese  to  gi'ant  good  terms  by 
means  of  a  few  ships  of  war;  that,  for  example,  we  could  de- 
prive them  altogether  of  salt,  by  a  few  cruisers  properly  station- 

13 


2d(>  A  voicK  Fi;oM  .<r.  hki.kna. 

t^.  NapoV'uii  irplii'il.  "It  would  In-  tlif  worst  tliiiiij;  ^oii  have 
dom-  for  ti  uuruln'i-  of  }  oars,  to  go  to  war  with  an  imtiuiise  em 
piro  like  China,  and  possossinj;  so  man)  rosourecs.  You  would 
Joul)llcss,  at  first  succeed,  take  what  vessels  they  have,  and  de- 
stroy their  trade;  l>ut  you  would  teach  them  their  own  strength 
They  would  ho  compelled  to  adopt  measures  to  defend  them 
selves  against  you  ;  they  would  consider  and  say,  '  We  must  tr} 
to  make  ourselves  equal  to  this  nation.  Why  should  we  suffer 
u  people,  so  far  away,  to  do  as  they  please  to  us?  W^e  must 
build  ships,  we  must  put  guns  into  them,  we  must  render  our 
selves  ecjual  to  them.'  They  would,"  continued  the  enijteror 
"get  artificers,  and  ship-builders,  Irom  France,  and  America,  and 
even  from  London;  they  would  build  a  fleet,  and  in  the  course 
•jf  tin)e,  defeat  you." 

I  observed,  that  it  was  likely  Lord  Amherst  would  wait  upon 
him.  Napoleon  replied,  "if  he  is  to  be  presented  by  the  Guv- 
ernor,  or  if  the  latter  sends  one  of  his  staff  with  him,  1  will  not 
receive  him  ;  if  he  comes  with  the  admiral,  I  shall.  Neither  will 
[  receive  the  new  admiral  if  he  is  to  be  introduced  by  the  Gon*- 
crnor.  In  his  last  letter,  there  is  an  insult  to  us.  lie  says,  that 
we  may  go  round  by  Miss  Mason's,  but  that  we  must  not  go  off 
the  main  road.*  Where  is  this  main  road  ]  1  never  could  find 
ai;v.  If  I  were  obliged  to  step  aside  a  few  yards  for  any  occa- 
sion, 1  should  be  exposed  to  be  shot  at  by  a  sentinel.  The  ad- 
'".iral,  when  he  was  here  last,  spoke  like  his  advocate,  and  wanted 
e  to  receive  him  with  Lord  Amherst.  1  would  not  receive  my 
wn  son  if  he  were  to  be  presented  by  him !" 

27//'. — Napoleon  in  his  bath.  Gave  me  some  explanations 
vouching  what  had  been  said  of  his  having  kept  secret  from  his 
soldiers  in  Egypt,  for  a  long  time,  that  the  plague  had  got  into 
the  army.  "1,"  said  he,  ^'' once  touched  a  soldier  in  the  hospital 
who  was  infected,  with  a  view  to  convince  the  troops  that  the 
disease  was  not  the  plague ;  and  1  believe  that  I  succeeded  for 
"ifteen  days,  in  persuading  them  that  it  was  otly  a  fever  with 
ouboes.  I  rarel)  practiced  visiting  the  hospital,''  continued  he, 
••8  the  extreme  Ben»ibility  of  my  nose  was  such,  that  the  smell 
*  Tlie  main  roud  i.n  ii  puth  impassable  by  w heel-car riagM. 


181*7 — MARCH.  291 

always  made  me  ill,  on  which  account  I  was  advised  by  Corvisart 
and  my  other  physicians  not  to  attempt  it.  Even  during  my 
campaigns  in  Europe  1  seldom  visited  them." 

'idth. — The  emperor  again  in  his  bath.     Conversed  about  the 
English    manufacturers,    blamed   the    ministers   for    not    having 
availed  themselves  of  circumstances  that  had  existed  to  make  a 
favorable  commercial   treaty   with   Spain  and   Portugal.      '''U,'^ 
added  he,  "  I  were  now  on  the  throne  of  France,  Feidinand  would 
be  my  friend.     As  long  as  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguese  retain 
their  colonies  in  South  America,   so  long  will   they  be  against 
England.     The  world  is  too  enlightened  to  allow  you  to  usurp 
the  whole  of  the  trade  and  manufactures.     I,  myself,  during  my 
reign,  gave  up  near  five  hundred  convents,  without  any  payment, 
to  individuals,  on  the  sole  condition  of  their  engaging  to  establish 
a  manufactory  in  each.     Moreover,  I  lent  them  out  of  my  own 
pocket  upwards  of  fifty  millions  of  francs  to  enable  them  to  go 
on,  which  they  were  to  retain  for  nine  years,  without  paying  any 
interest,   after  which  term  the  principal  was  to  be  returned.     In 
England,  your  machines  are  so  numerous,  that  in  a  short  tune 
you  would  have  had  no  occasion  for  hands."     I  observed,  that 
the  prevalence  of  machinery  was  one  cause  of  the  great  distress 
in  England.     "  But,"  replied  Napoleon.  "  you  were  obliged  to 
have  recourse  to  the  aid  of  machinery,  because  the  necessaries  of 
life  are  twice  as  dear  in  England  as  on  the  continent,   and  your 
taxes  six  times  greater,  and  also  because  other  nations  have  them. 
Otherwise,  you  could  not  have  sold  your  manufactures  as  cheap 
as  they  could,  and  consequently  would  not  find  purchasers.     Jt; 
Germany  and  Switzerland,  for  example,  there  were  a  great  num- 
ber of  machines." 

He  spoke  again  about  Lord  Amherst,  and  observed,  that  it 
would  be  an  insult  to  ask  a  Chinese  ambassador,  if  there  were  one 
in  London,  to  perform  similar  ceremonies  there,  as  were  required 
of  the  English  ambassador  at  Pekin,  because  it  was  not  the 
custom  of  the  country  he  was  in."  "For  example,"  said  he,  "  if 
the  king  of  France  were  to  require  the  English  ambassador  to 
kiss  his  hand,  it  would  be  an  insult  to  him,  because  it  is  not  the 
custom  in  France,  though  his  amhassudur  did  it  in  Loudon,     lo 


2}>2  A    Volt'K    KKiiM    sr.    IlKLKNA 

like  luaiuuM',  to  ask  a  niaiitlaiiii  to  pi'ifoiin  a  similar  cciomonv 
bcforo  king  Goorgo's  pioliiii"  is  a /hV/xc  ami  an  iiisiili  to  Cliiiia ; 
hoi-auso  it  is  not  tlie  riisluni  «.»1"  tiu"  piai-f.  An  aniliassador  is  t'ni 
iho  ajfairs,  and  nut  for  the  ceremonies  of  iho  country  ho.  hoh)n;;s 
to.  IIo  hix'onios  tho  same  as  one  of  the  first  noljles  of  the  country 
lie  is  in,  ami  should  conform  to  the  same  ceremonies.  If  any 
thing  more  were  required  of  him,  then  indeed  he  ought  to  refuse 
his  consent." 

31*7. — Dined  at  Plantation  House  in  company  with  Count 
Balnuiine,  Baron  and  Baroness  Sturmer,  Captain  Gor,  &c.  The 
commissioners  very  anxious  to  know  something  about  Napoleon. 
Told  Baron  Sturmer,  with  whom  I  had  a  long  conversation,  that 
Napoleon  had  said  when  he  read  a  letter  in  the  newspapers  which 
was  attributed  to  the  Marquis  Montchenu,  that  it  was  another 
proof  of  the  imbecility  of  Vancienne  noblesse  de  France^  que  ces 
jnessictirs  la  sent  ioujoiirs  les  memes,  (the  ancient  nol>ility  of 
France,  that  those  gentlemen  were  always  the  same.) 

April  '2nd. — Saw  Napoleon,  who  was  in  tolerable  spirits.  I 
asked  if  it  were  true  that  he  had  been  induced  to  quit  Egypt  by 
his  having  received  private  information  that  the  directory  pur- 
posed to  get  him  assassinated  there  1  "  No,"  replied  the  em- 
peror, "I  never  heard,  or  thought  so;  neither  had  the  directory 
any  intention  of  causing  it  to  be  done.  They  were  jealous  of 
me  certainly,  but  they  had  no  idea  of  the  kind ;  and  in  the  actual 
situation  of  France,  I  do  not  think  that  they  wished  it.  I  re- 
turned from  Egypt  because  my  presence  was  necessary  to  the 
••epublic,  and  because  the  first  object  of  the  expedition  had  been 
gained  by  the  conquest  of  Egypt."  I  asked  if  the  project  had 
originated  with  him,  or  with  the  directory.  "  With  both  one  and 
the  other,"  replied  Napoleon.  "  We  both  thought  of  it  at  the 
same  time." 

Told  him  what  I  had  said  to  Baron  Sturmer  about  Montchenu. 
"For  the  credit  of  France,"  said  he,  "they  ought  to  have  sent 
out  amongst  the  English  some  person  possessed  of  a  little  talent, 
instead  of  an  old  imbecile." 

Mr.  and  Misses  Churchill  from  India  came  up  yesterday  to  see 
Madame  Bertrand,  with  a  view  of  having  an  interview  with  Na- 


1817— APRIL.  293 

poleoD.  His  excellency,  however,  took  an  effectual  mode  of 
preventing  it,  by  sending  up  Sir  Thomas  Reade  to  accompany 
them. 

It  is  probable  that  Napoleon,  who  is  very  partial  to  female 
society,  and  was  informed  that  the  young  ladies  were  highly  ac- 
complished, and  spolie  French  fluently,  would  have  managed  tc 
have  met  them  accidentally^  had  not  Sir  Thomas  been  an  atten 
tive  listener  close  to  their  sides  during  the  whole  time. 

Captain  Cook,  of  the  Tortoise,  and  Mr.  Mackenzie,  midshipman 
of  the  same  ship,  came  up  to  Longwood.  Mr.  Mackenzie  had 
been  midshipman  on  board  of  the  Undaunted,  Captain  Usher, 
when  the  emperor  took  a  passage  in  that  ship  to  Elba.  Captain 
Cook  told  me,  that  after  waiting  some  time  on  the  look  out,  they 
saw  Napoleon  walking  in  the  garden,  who  sent  for  and  asked 
them  many  questions.  He  recollected  Mr.  Mackenzie,  observed 
that  he  had  grown  much  since  he  had  seen  him  bef<)re,  and  made 
some  inquiries  about  Captain  Usher.  He  asked  Captain  Cook 
how  long  he  had  been  in  the  service'?  to  which  he  replied, 
"  Thirty  years." — He  seemed  surprised  at  this,  and  asked  what 
actions ;  Cook  mentioned,  amongst  others,  Trafalgar.  Napoleon 
asked  the  name  of  the  ship  he  belonged  to,  and  divers  questions 
about  the  battle,  where  he  came  from,  and  concluded  by  asking 
him  where  he  was  going  to  dine  %  "  At  camp,"  was  the  reply  ; 
"  at  camp,  then  take  care,"  said  Napoleon,  "  that  you  do  not  get 
drunk." 

Cipriani  in  town,  making  the  usual  purchases. 

Zrd. — Napoleon  observed,  that  he  had  seen  yesterday  an  old 
seaman,  which  he  expressed  in  English.  "  He  looks,"  said  he, 
"like  a  seaman  e -pare  un  bfav''uomo,  (and  seems  a  brave  man.) 
There  was  with  him  a  midshipman  who  was  on  board  of  the 
frigate  with  Usher,  when  I  took  a  passage  in  her  to  Elba.  He  is 
much  grown,"  continued  he,  ''but  I  recollected  him."  1  told 
him  that  the  midshipman  had  said,  the  ship's  company  of  the 
Undaunted  had  liked  him,  (Napoleon,)  very  much.  "Yes,"  re- 
plied Napoleon,  "  I  believe  they  did  ;  1  used  to  go  amongst 
them,  speak  to  them  kindly,  and  ask  different  questions.  My 
freedom  in  this  respect  quite  astonished  them,  as  it  was  so  dif 


294  A  voicK  mow  fi.r.  hei.ena. 

fercnt  from  tliut  which  ihoy  had  been  acoustonicd  to  reccivt  {n>u 
their  own  ofiicers.  You  Enjrlish  are  aristocrats.  You  koop  p 
jirout  distance  hotwccu  yourselves  and  the  popolof"*  I  observed 
that  on  board  of  a  man-of-war,  it  was  necessary  to  keep  the  se» 
men  at  a  £freat  distance  in  order  to  maintain  a  proper  respect  for 
the  odieors,  "I  do  not  think,"  replied  the  emperor,  "  that  it  i' 
necessary  to  keep  up  so  much  as  you  practice.  When  the  off? 
cers  do  not  eat  or  drink,  or  make  too  many  freedoms  with  them 
I  see  no  necessity  for  any  greater  distinctions.  Nature  formed 
all  men  equal.  It  was  always  my  custom  to  go  amongst  the 
soldiers  and  the  canaille,  to  converse  with  them,  ask  their  little 
histories,  and  speak  kindly  to  them.  This  I  found  to  be  of  the 
greatest  benefit  to  me.  On  the  contrary,  the  generals  and  offi- 
cers, It  trattai  poco  bene,  (treated  them  badly,)  and  kept  them  at 
a  great  distance. 

"  I  asked,"  continued  he,  "  the  old  seaman  where  he  was  to 
dine,  and  cautioned  him  not  to  get  drunk.  lie  told  me  he  was 
married,  and  had  no  children.  I  asked  him  what  he  intended  to 
do  with  his  money.  lie  said  that  he  would  leave  it  to  an  hos- 
pital. 1  then  asked  him  if  he  had  any  nephews  or  nieces,  and 
recommended  him  to  leave  his  riches  to  them,  instead  of  to  an 
hospital." 

"  You  ])rought  a  book,"  said  he,  "  about  the  battle  of  Water- 
loo, to  Gourgaud.  The  author  says  that  I  was  an  imbecile,  and 
that  my  army  were  a  set  of  robbers,  and  that  I  committed  one 
of  the  greatest  blunders  of  which  a  military  man  could  be  guilty, 
by  engaging  Lord  Wellington  with  a  forest  in  his  rear.  Now 
the  great  fault  in  Lord  Wellington  was  having  engaged  me  in  a 
position  witn  a  forest  in  his  rear,  with  only  one  road  leading  to 
it ;  as  in  case  of  a  defeat  he  could  not  have  retreated.  To  effect 
a  retreat  well,  it  is  necessary  to  have  several  roads  by  which 
your  army  can  retire  in  large  bodies,  and  with  celerity  ;  and  also 
be  able  to  defend  themselves  if  attacked.  It  would  have  required 
twelve  hours,  without  being  molested,  to  enable  Wellington's 
army  to  have  got  into  the  forest.  The  confusion  of  a  beaten 
army,  attempting  to  retreat  by  one  road,  would  have  been  such 

*  People. 


1817— APRIL.  296 

fts  to  cause  its  total  destruction  when  attacked.  Another  libeler 
says  that  I  conquered  Italy  with  a  few  thousand  galley  slaves. 
Now  the  fact  is,  that  probably  so  fine  an  army  never  had  existed 
before.  More  than  one  half  of  them  were  men  of  education,  the 
sons  of  merchants,  of  lawyers,  of  physicians,  or  of  the  better 
Older  of  farmers  and  burgeoisie  (citizens).  Two-thirds  of  them 
knew  how  to  write,  and  were  capable  of  being  made  officers. 
Indeed,  in  a  regiment  it  would  have  puzzled  me  to  decide  who 
were  the  most  deserving  subjects,  or  who  best  merited  promo- 
tion, as  they  were  all  so  good.  Oh,"  continued  he,  with  emotion, 
"  that  all  my  armies  had  been  the  same  !  When  on  a  march,  I 
frequently  called  to  the  soldiers  for  some  one  to  come  forward 
and  write  from  my  dictation.  I  was  surrounded  directly  by 
dozens  eager  to  undertake  it,  as  there  were  few  who  did  not  write 
like  a  clerk. 

"  If,"  continued  he,  "  the  French  army  had  even  been  a  set  of 
brigands,  which  was  not  the  case,  it  ill  becomes  a  Frenchman  to 
say  so.  But,  for  your  purposes,  you  have  found  worse  French- 
men than  Louis  has  yet  found  Englishmen.  Perhaps  there  is 
more  nationality — more  public  spirit  than  in  France.  You  are 
islanders.  C'e  lo  spirito  isolare,  (this  is  an  islander's  spirit). 
And  besides,  you  have  not  had  a  revolution  so  lately  as  in 
France.  To  form  a  correct  judgment  of  the  two  nations,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  see  both  immediately  after  a  revolution. 
Moreover,  your  ministers  have  many  Frenchmen  in  pay  to  write 
whatever  is  pointed  out  to  them  against  their  own  country." 

Napoleon  then  asked  if  we  kept  Good  Friday  sacred,  if  we 
fasted,  and  what  was  our  mode  of  doing  so  ?  I  replied,  that  we 
did  observe  it ;  that  Protestants  seldom  fasted  ;  but  that  when 
we  practiced  it,  we  abstained  altogether  from  food.  That  we  did 
not  consider  avoiding  animal  food,  and  gorging  with  turbot,  or 
with  any  other  delicate  fish,  as  fasting:  "You  are  right,"  said 
the  emperor,  "  you  are  perfectly  right.  If  one  fasts  at  all.  It 
ought  to  be  from  every  thing,  or  else  it  does  not  deserve  the 
name.  Oh  come  gli  uomini  son  bestie,  (how  much  a  beast  is  mac) 
U>  believe  that  abstaining  from  flesh,  and  eating  fish,  which  i^  »c 


296  A   VOICE   I'JiOM   SI".    HELENA. 

much  more  deliciite  and  di-licioiis,  constitutes  fasting.  Povtrmc 
f*o»jo,"  (poor  ninn.) 

''  Boforo  u\\  reign,"'  said  he,  "  the  oath  taken  by  the  French 
kings  was  to  exterminate  all  heretics!  At  my  coronation,  /swore 
lo  protect  all  worfships !  Louis  has  not  yet  sworn,  because  he 
lias  not  been  crowned,  and  in  all  probability  will  not  take  the 
nath  of  extermination  through  fear  of  you  and  of  the  Prussians; 
nut  that  he  has  not  the  will,  on  the  contrary,  he  would  with  plea- 
sure both  swear  and  cause  it  to  be  effected.  For  the  family  of  the 
Bourbons  are  the  must  intolerant  upon  earth.  The  English  will 
yet  discover  what  they  are." 

Napoleon  afterwards  spoke  about  Iloche.  "  Hoche,"  said  he, 
"  was  one  of  the  first  generals  that  ever  Fiance  produced.  He 
was  brave,  intelligent,  abounding  in  talent,  decisive,  and  pene- 
trating, intriria)it  also.  If  Iloche  had  lauded  in  Ireland,  he  would 
have  succeeded.  He  possessed  all  the  qualities  necessary  to  in- 
sure success.  He  was  accustomed  to  civil  war,  and  knew  how 
to  conduct  himself  under  such  circumstances.  He  had  pacified 
La  Vendee,  and  was  well  adapted  for  Ireland.  He  had  a  fine 
handsome  figure,  a  good  address ;  he  was  prepossessing  and  in- 
triguing, but  by  some  imbecility  he  was  placed  on  board  of  a 
frigate  which  never  reached  the  Irish  coast,  while  the  rest  of  the 
expedition  of  about  eighteen  thousand  men,  got  into  Bantry  Bay, 
where  they  remained  for  some  days  perfectly  masters  of  the 
means  of  disembarkation.  But  Grouchy,  who  I  believe  was 
second  in  command,  did  nut  know  what  to  do ;  so  that  after 
liaving  had  it  in  their  power  to  land  and  send  the  ships  away,  as 
-hey  ought  to  have  dune,  they  remained  a  short  time,  did 
nothing,  and  then  departed  like  imbeciles.  If  Hoche  had  arrived, 
Ireland  was  lost  to  you." 

"If  the  Irish,"  added  he,  "  had  sent  over  honest  men  to  me,  I 
would  have  certainly  made  an  attempt  upon  Ireland.  But  I  had 
no  confidence  in  either  the  integrity  or  the  talents  of  the  Irish 
leaders  that  were  in  France.  They  could  oflfer  no  plan,  were 
divided  in  opinion,  and  continually  quarreling  with  each  other. 
i  had  but  a  poor  opinion  of  the  integrity  of  that  O'Connor,  who 
was  so  much  spoken  of  amongst  you." 


1817— APRIL.  29? 

4/A. — Napoleon  dressed  and  in  the  billiard-room.  In  very 
good  spirits.  Spoke  abont  the  admiralty  ;  asked  who  signed  the 
commissions  of  naval  officers?  Was  surprised  when  I  informed 
him  that  none  were  signed  by  the  king.  "  What,  was  not  Nel- 
son's commission  signed  by  King  George?"  I  replied  in  the  nega- 
tive, and  said  that  none  but  officers  of  the  army  and  marines  had 
commissions  signed  by  the  king;  that  his  majesty  had  nothing 
to  do  with  naval  promotions.  "  Who  appoints  the  admiralty  ?" 
said  Napoleon.  I  replied,  "The  sovereign."  "Then,"  said  he, 
"  it  is  a  humbug  ;  as,  if  the  king  wants  to  give  a  command  to  an 
admiral,  or  to  promote  an  officer,  he  has  nothing  more  to  do  than 
to  signify  his  wish  to  the  Admiralty,  who  would  not  dare  to  re- 
fuse him,  through  fear  of  losing  their  own  places."  I  observed 
in  reply,  that  it  had  been  said  that  the  sovereign  had  at  times 
caused  the  appointment  of  an  admiral  and  commander-in-chief 
not  exactly  agreeable  to  the  wish  of  the  Admiralty  ;  but  that  in 
such  cases,  it  was  at  the  option  of  the  lords  of  the  Admiralty  to 
confirm  or  not  the  promotions  made  by  him,  excepting  certain 
vacancies  which  by  right  or  by  custom  were  in  his  gift.  "Bah," 
said  Napoleon,  "  if  they  did  not  confirm  the  promotions,  would 
not  the  king  dismiss  them  from  their  places?  The  king  can  pro- 
mote whom  he  likes.  He  has  great  power,  because  he  appoints 
the  ministers,  and  commands  those  who  have  the  direction  of 
every  thing.  Ministers  love  their  places  too  well  to  run  the  risk 
of  losing  them  by  refusing  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the 
sovereign  ;  unless  in  rare  instances.  It  has  happened  to  myself 
that  a  minister  has  said,  '  Sire,  I  cannot  agree  to  this.  It  is  con 
trary  to  my  opinion,  and  I  will  sooner  resign  than  comply.'  " 

I  remarked  that  several  instances  were  not  wanting  in  England 
of  ministers  having  given  up  their  places  rather  than  comply  vvith 
the  wishes  of  the  crown,  or  act  against  their  principles.  That  the 
king  of  England  had  considerable  power  over  the  army  and  the 
navy  :  but  that  over  independent  persons  not  military,  naval, 
placemen,  or  place-hunters,  he  had  only  the  influence  which  arose 
from  their  being  conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  his  measures.  "And 
what  more  had  I  in  France?"  said  Napoleon,  "  what  could  I  effect 
unless  with  those  classes  that  you  have  excepted?"     I  venture'^ 


298  A    VOICE   FROM   ST.    IlKLENA. 

to  observe  that  in  Fraiici'  tlu-iv  was  noitlu  r  liljcrty  of  speech,  noi 
of  the  press,  and  that  a  iium  might  lie  ehvi>pocl  into  prison  for 
opposing  the  measures  of  government,  and  kept  there  for  an  in- 
definite period.  Napoleon  replied,  "  There  certainly  was  not  in 
Fraiiee  that  freedom  of  discussion  which  prevails  in  England  ; 
though  sometimes  there  was  a  very  strong  opposition  in  the 
senate;  nor  was  there  so  much  freedom  of  speech  or  liberty  of 
the  press ;  but  what  could  1  have  done  to  a  banker,  or  to  other 
independent  persons  who  opposed  my  measures?  Put  them  in 
prison,  vex  and  annoy  them  by  arrestations  1  They  could  appeal 
to  the  senate  and  to  the  laws.  Besides,  it  would  have  been  an 
unworthy  mode  of  acting.  I  do  not  deny  that  the  old  constitu- 
tion of  France  was  a  very  bad  one,  and  required  to  be  newly 
modified;  but  that  constitution  which  I  gave  them  when  I  return- 
ed from  Elba  was  excellent;  indeed  its  only  fault  was  that  it  left 
too  little  power  in  my  hands,  and  perhaps  too  much  in  those  of 
the  senate.  I  could  not  imprison  a  man  without  a  decree,  order 
a  fine,  impose  taxes,  or  levy  them  by  conscription  ;  and  there 
was  a  law  for  the  liberty  of  the  press."  1  said  that  his  enemies 
had  asserted  that  the  constitution  he  had  given  was  only  for  the 
moment,  and  that  when  firmly  seated  on  the  throne,  he  would 
have  brought  back  things  to  the  old  system.  "  No,  no,"  replied 
the  emperor,  "  1  would  have  continued  the  last  constitution ;  I 
was  well  convinced  that  the  old  one  required  a  great  change.  I 
suppose  that  it  was  Lord  Castlercagh  who  made  the  assertion ; 
but  you  must  not  believe  Lord  Castlercagh.  You  know  what 
falsehoods  he  publicly  asserted  about  me  since  I  came  here. 
I  should  not  be  surprised  if  they  were  to  falsify  all  the  official 
papers,  as  they  have  already  done  those  concerning  Murat,  and 
also  myself.  When  I  returned  from  Elba,  I  found  all  the  ajjjjo- 
ratus.  They  had  falsified  a  number  of  the  state  papers,  with  the 
intention  of  publishing  them.  M.  Blacas  had  the  direction  of  the 
wnole;  but  it  was  a  priest  who  managed  and  executed  it.  The 
same  had  been  done  before  to  Murat's  papers.  The  fabrications 
were  shown  to  some  Englishmen.  Blacas  in  like  manner  falsified 
a  letter  from  a  femme  de  chambre  (chambermaid)  of  my  sister 
Pauinie,  containing  seven  or  eight  pages  of  ha  oar  dag  e,  (nonsense.) 


1817 — APRIL.  299 

He  had  it  interpolated  so  as  to  make  it  appear  that  I  had  slept 
with  my  sister !  This  Blacas  is  a  wicked  man,  and  a  blockhead 
withal.  He  was  base  enough  to  leave  behind  him  at  Paris  letters 
containing  the  offers  of  all  those  in  France  who  had  betrayed  me 
before,  signed  by  the  writers  themselves ;  so  if  I  had  pleased,  1 
could  have  executed  thousands.  I  did  not  however  make  any 
use  of  them  further  than  remembering  their  names.  Now  a 
greater  proof  of  imbecility  and  of  treachery  could  not  have  been 
given  than  this  conduct  of  Blacas  ;  those  letters  ought  to  have 
been  the  very  first  things  put  in  security,  or  destroyed  ;  as  they 
compromised  the  lives  of  so  many  persons.  But  M.  Blacas  was 
only  intent  upon  saving  his  quatlrini  ;*  and  gave  himself  but 
little  concern  about  the  lives  of  those  who  had  been  the  means 
of  bringing  himself  and  his  master  back.  He  was  then  minister 
of  the  king's  household.  Every  thing  was  trusted  to  him  by 
Louis,  who  is  incapable  himself,  and  whose  chief  qualities  are 
dissimulation  and  hypocrisy.  His  legs  are  covered  with  ulcers, 
which  are  dressed  for  him  by  the  Duchess  of  Angouleme.  He 
gorges  to  that  degree  every  day,  that  they  are  obliged  to  give 
him  God  kno"  ivhat  to  enable  him  to  disencumber  himself  of 
his  load.  "^  ine  morning  he  will  be  found  dead  in  his  bed.  He 
has  son  Ignorant  imbeciles  of  physicians  about  him.  They 
wan''-..  Corvisart  to  attend  him,  but  he  refused,  saying,  that  if 
ni;  ■  accident  happened,  he  might  be  accused  of  having  contribut- 
ed to  his  end.  When  I  returned  to  the  Tuilleries,  I  found  my 
apartments  poisoned  with  the  smell  of  his  legs,  and  of  divers 
sulphureous  baths,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  using." 

"  These  Bourbons  are  the  most  timorous  race  imaginable," 
continued  Napoleon  :  "  put  them  in  fear,  and  you  may  obtahi 
anything.  While  I  was  at  Elba,  an  actress,  named  Mademoi- 
selle Raucour,  died.  Slie  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  public,  and 
an  immense  concourse  of  people  went  to  her  funeral.  When 
they  arrived  at  the  church  of  St.  Roque,  in  order  to  have  the 
funeral  service  celebrated  over  the  corpse,  they  found  the  doors 
shut,  and  admittance  was  refused  to  it.  Nor  would  they  allow 
it  to  be  buried  in  consecrated  ground,  as  by  the  old  regulations 

*  Monc\'. 


800  A    VOICE   FROM    ST.    HKLENA. 

of  those  priests,  people  of  her  profession  were  exchided  from 
Christian  inirial.  The  populnce  broke  open  the  doors  with  sledges, 
and,  perceiving  that  there  was  no  priest  to  perforin  the  funeral 
serviee,  they  l>eeanie  clamorous — their  rage  knew  no  bounds. 
They  cried,  Au  chaUaii^  an  chafeaii,  ties  ThniUeries,  (to  the  castle, 
to  the  castle,  of  the  Thuilleries).  We  will  see  what  right  these 
priests  have  to  refuse  interment  to  a  Christian  corpse.  Theii 
fury  was  heightened  still  more,  by  learning  that  the  very  coqtiin, 
(villain)  the  eurate  of  St.  Ixoqiie,  who  hail  refused  Christian 
burial  t*)  the  eorpse  of  Mile.  Kaucour,  had  been  in  the  constant 
habit  of  receiving  presents  from  her,  both  for  himself  and  for  the 
poor,  (for  she  was  extremely  charitable)  and  had  dined  and 
supped  with  her  repeatedly.  Moreover,  that  he  had  actually 
administered  the  sacrament  to  her  a  few  days  before  her  demise. 
The  populace  cried  out,  Here  is  a  canaille  of  a  priest,  who  ad- 
ministers the  sacrament  to  a  woman,  and  afterwards  denies  her 
body  Christian  burial.  If  she  was  worthy  of  the  sacrament,  she 
surely  is  worthy  of  burial.  He  receives  her  benefactions,  eats 
her  dinners,  and  refuses  her  body  interment !  About  fifty  thou- 
sand of  them  went  to  the  Thuilleries  to  seek  redress  from  the 
king.  An  architect,  who  was  in  the  inner  apartments  at  the 
time,  told  i  le  that  he  was  present  when  Louis  was  first  informed 
of  it.  Not  being  then  aware  that  the  mob  was  so  numerous, 
Louis  said,  '  The  curate  is  right.  Those  players  are  ungodly 
gentry  ;  they  are  excommunicated,  and  have  no  right  to  Christian 
burial.'  A  few  minutes  afterwards,  Blacas  entered  in  a  great 
fright,  and  said  that  there  were  above  seventy  thousand  furious 
people  about  the  palace,  and  that  he  was  afraid  they  would  pull 
it  down  about  them.  Louis,  almost  out  of  his  senses  with  fear, 
cried  out  to  give  immediate  orders  to  have  the  body  buried  ac- 
cording to  the  rites  of  the  church,  and  actually  hurried  some 
persons  away  to  see  it  carried  into  execution  directly.  He  was 
not  quit  of  his  terror  for  some  days.  Those  priests  tried  with 
me  an  experiment  of  a  similar  nature  with  the  body  of  a  beauti- 
ful dancer,  but  ^  Per  Dio^  (by  God)  said  he,  with  emotion,  '  they 
had  not  Louis  to  deal  with,     I  soon  settled  the  affair.'  " 

"  i,"  continued   Napoleon,  '"rendered  all   the  burying  places 


1817 — APRIL.  801 

independent  of  the  priests.  I  hated  friars,  {/rati)  and  was  the 
annihilator  of  them  and  of  their  receptacles  of  crime,  the  monas- 
teries, where  every  vice  was  practiced  with  impunity.  A  set  of 
miscreants,  (sceleruti)  who  in  "general  are  a  dishonor  to  the  human 
race.  Of  priests  I  would  have  always  allowed  a  sufficient  num- 
ber, but  no/m^!^,"  (friars). 

I  observed  to  the  emperor  after  this,  that  it  had  been  asserted 
that  after  having  at  first  refused  to  agree  to  the  peace  proposed 
by  the  allies  at  Chatillon,  he  had  sent  a  messenger  to  inform 
Lord  Castlereagh  that  he  had  changed  his  mind,  and  was  willing 
to  agree  to  the  terms  which  had  been  offered  ;  but  Lord  Castle- 
reagh had  replied,  "That  it  was  too  late,  and  that  they  had  deter- 
mined upon  their  measures."* 

Napoleon  answered,  "  It  is  false.  I  never  would  consent  to 
the  peace  at  Chatillon,  because  I  had  sworn  to  preserve  the  integ- 
rity of  the  empire  :  rather  than  deviate  from  which,  I  wrote  to 
Caulaincourt  that  I  would  abdicate.  I  would  have  agreed  to  the 
terms  proposed  at  Francfort,  where  the  Rhine  was  to  form  the 
boundaries  of  France,  as  being  the  natural  one."f 

*  This  information  was  given  to  me  by  Sir  Hudson  Lowe. 

t  The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Vicenza  may  not  be  unin- 
teresting : 

Sir — In  a  work  of  M.  Kooh,  entitled,  "  Campagne  de  1814,"  several  fragments 
of  letters,  written  by  me  to  the  emperor  and  to  the  Prince  de  Neufchatel,  during 
the  congress  at  Chatillon,  are  inserted. 

As  to  the  congress  of  Chatillon,  if  events  have  justified  the  desire  which  I 
had  to  see  peace  restored  to  my  country,  it  would  be  unjust  to  leave  France  and 
history  ignorant  of  the  motives  of  national  interest  and  honor  which  induced 
the  emperor  to  refuse  signing  the  conditions  which  the  allies  desired  to  impose 
upon  us. 

I  fulfil,  therefore,  the  first  of  duties,  that  of  equity  and  truth,  in  making  known 
those  motives  by  the  following  extract  from  the  orders  of  the  emperor : 

Paris,  January  19iA,  1814. — "That  which  the  emperor  insists  on  the  most, 
i8  the  necessity  of  Franco  preserving  her  limits.  This  is  a  sin^  q\M  non  condi- 
tion. All  the  powers,  even  England,  have  recognized  these  limits  at  Francfort. 
France,  reduced  to  her  ancient  limits,  would  not  have  to-day  two-thirds  of  the 
relative  power  which  she  possessed  twenty  years  ago.  What  she  has  acquired 
on  the  side  of  the  Alps  and  of  the  Rhine,  does  not  compensate  what  Russia, 
Austria,  and  Prussia,  havs  acquired  by  the  sole  dismemberment  of  Poland.  AU 
thoee  statns  are  aggrandized.  To  wish  to  bring  back  France  to  its  ancient  state, 
would  b')  to  bring  it  to  decay  and  degradation.  France,  without  the  depart- 
ments cf  the  Khine,  without  Belgium,  without  Oatend,  without  Antwerp,  would 


802  A   VOICE    FROM    SI'.    HELENA 

1  took  the  liberty  to  oliservt',  tliat  it  might  naturally  be  sup 
posed  that  he  would  imt  have  ailhered  to  the  treaty  of  Paris,  the 
terms  of  whieh  were  worse.  "  Yes,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  1  WDuld 
strictly  have  complied  with  that  treaty.  I  would  not  have  made 
it  myself;  but  finding  it  made,  and  that  it  was  not  my  work,  I 
wtiuld  have  adhered  to  it  and  remained  in  peace." 

A  part  of  the  conversation  which  followed  led  me  to  make 
some  remarks  not  favorable  to  Marcchal  Davoust,  and  also  to 
ask  Napoleon  whether  he  was  not  considered  as  one  of  the  best 
of  his  generals.  "  No,"  replied  the  emperor,  "  1  do  not  think 
him  a  bad  character.  He  never  plundered  for  himself.  He  cer- 
tainly levied  contributions,  but  they  were  for  the  army.  It  is 
necessary  for  an  army,  especially  when  besieged,  to  provide  for 
itself  As  to  being  one  of  the  first  of  the  French  generals,  he  is 
by  no  means  so — though  a  good  general."  I  then  asked  who  in 
his  opinion  now^  was  the  first.  ''  It  is  difiicult  to  say,"  replied 
Napoleon.  "  I  think,  however,  that  Suchet  is  probably  the  first. 
Massena  was  ;  but  you  may  say  that  he  is  dead.  He  has  a  com- 
plaint in  his  breast,  which  has  rendered  him  quite  another  kind 
of  man.  Suchet,  Clausel,  and  Gerard,  are,  in  my  opinion,  the 
first  of  the  French  generals.  It  is  difficult  to  pronounce  which  is 
superior,*  as  they  have  not  had  many  opportunities  of  command- 
be  nothiiifr.  The  system  of  bringing  back  Friinee  to  her  ancient  frontiers  is 
inseparable  from  the  re-establislmieut  of  the  Bourbons,  because  they  alone  could 
offer  a  guarantee  for  the  maintenance  of  this  system  :  England  feels  this  well. 
In  all  other  respects,  peace  upon  such  a  basis  would  be  impossible,  and  couJd 
not  last.  Neither  tlie  emperor  nor  the  republic,  if  some  political  commotion 
should  revive  it,  would  ever  subscribe  to  such  a  condition.  For  the  emperor's 
part,  his  resolution  is  talicn— he  is  unchangeable— he  will  not  leave  France  less 
great  than  he  has  received  her.  If,  then,  the  allies  wish  to  change  the  basis 
proposed  and  accepted,  th£  natural  limits,  he  can  see  but  three  courses,  either  to 
fight  and  conquer,  or  to  fight  and  die  gloriously  ;  or,  tinally,  if  the  nation  would 
not  support  him,  to  abdicate.  He  does  not  cling  to  liigh  place :  he  never  will 
preserve  it  by  hia  own  degradation." 

I  expect,  Sir,  from  your  impartiality,  that  you  would  give  a  place  to  this  letter 
in  your  journal,  and  I  seize  this  opportunity  of  offering  you  the  assurance  of 
my  distinguished  consideration. 

(Signed)       CAUIJVINCOt^T,  DUC  DE  VICENZA. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Constitutionnel. 

•  An  the  emperor  was  rolling  the  balls  of  the  billiard-table  about  at  this  mo- 


1817 — APRIL. 

ing  in  chief,  which  is  the  only  mode  by  which  you  can  ascertair. 
the  extent  ot"  a  man's  talents."  He  also  mentioned  Soult  in 
terms  of  praise. 

Went  along  with  Captain  Poppleton,  Captain  Fuller,  Impett, 
and  other  officers  of  the  53d,  to  a  rat  hunt  in  the  camp,  which 
was  conducted  in  the  following  manner.  Some  soldiers  had  been 
furnished  with  spades,  and  began  to  dig  close  by  a  ditch  and  a 
wall,  which  were  infested  with  rats.  Two  dogs  were  in  waiting, 
and  wc  were  provided  with  sticks.  As  soon  as  the  rats  found 
their  premises  moving  about  them,  they  sallied  out  and  endea- 
vored to  make  their  escape.  They  were  then  attacked  by  the 
dogs  and  men,  and  a  most  animated  scene  of  confusion  took 
place ;  the  rats  trying  to  get  into  other  holes,  and  the  others  pur- 
suing and  striking  at  them  in  every  direction,  and  hitting  each 
other's  legs  in  their  eagerness  to  reach  their  prey.  Some  of  the 
rats  turned  upon  the  assailants,  and  made  a  desperate  resistance. 
Fourteen  of  them  were  killed  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 

The  rats  are  in  numbers  almost  incredible  at  Longwood.  I 
have  frequently  seen  them  assemble  like  broods  of  chickens 
round  the  offal  thrown  out  of  the  kitchen.  The  floors  and  wood- 
en partitions  that  separated  the  rooms  were  perforated  with  holes 
in  every  direction.  The  partitions,  being  for  the  most  part  double, 
and  of  one-inch  deal,  afforded  a  space  between  them  sufficiently  large 
to  admit  a  rat  to  move  with  facility.  It  is  difficult  for  any  per- 
Sfou  wno  has  not  actually  witnessed  it.  to  form  an  idea  of  the 
rioise  caused  by  those  animals  running  up  and  down  between  the 
partitions,  and  galloping  in  flocks  in  the  garrets,  whether  in  search 
of  food  or  amorously  gambolling,  I  know  not.  At  night,  when 
disturbed  by  their  entrance  into  my  chamber,  and  by  their  run- 
ning over  me  in  bed,  I  have  frequently  thrown  at  them  my 
boots,  the  boot-jack,  and  every  thing  I  could  readily  reach,  with- 
out intimidating  them  in  the  slightest  degree,  to  effect  which  I 
have  been  ultimately  obliged  to  get  out  in  order  to  drive  them 
away.  We  amused  ourselves  sometimes  in  the  evening  bj 
removing  the  pieces  of  tin  which  we  had  nailed  over  their  holes 

ment,  I  am  not  positive  whethor  it  was  only  llio  two  last  tluit  ho  montionod  na 
not  hiiviiig  often  cfnimandcil  in  chiof. 


S(H  A   VOICE   FROM    ST.    IIKT.ENA. 

mill  allowins;  thfin  suflicinit  liiiu'  to  fiiliT,  \s  lini  tlu>  sorvunts, 
arnietl  with  sticks,  iwul  fulKiwi-d  liy  cl<>i;s,  rushed  in,  covnt'd  the 
holes,  and  nttju-kcd  tht*  rats,  who  fViHjueiilly  made  a  dt-sjierate 
resistanoo,  and  hit  the  assailants  severely. 

However  good  the  dojjs  may  have  been  at  first,  they  generally 
became  indiirerent  or  nnwilling  to  attack  those  noxious  animals  ; 
and  tlie  same  may  be  said  of  the  cats.  Poisoning  them  was  im- 
practicable, as  the  snu'll  of  their  jintrid  carcases  would  render 
the  rooms  uninhabitable.  Indi-ed,  in  more  instances  than  one, 
it  has  been  necessary  to  open  a  partition,  in  order  to  extract  the 
body  of  a  rat  which  had  died  there,  and  had  caused  an  insupport- 
able stench. 

The  wretched  and  ruinous  state  of  the  building,  the  roofs*  and 
ceilings  of  which  were  chiefly  formed  of  wood,  and  covered  with 
brown  paper,  smeared  over  with  a  composition  of  pitch  and  tar, 
together  with  the  partition  being  chiefly  of  wood,  greatly  favored 
the  introduction  of  those  reptiles,  and  was  productive  of  another 
great  inconvenience,  as  the  composition,  when  heated  by  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  melted  and  ran  off",  leaving  a  number  of  chinks 
open,  through  which  the  heavy  tropical  rain  penetrated  in  tor- 
rents. Countess  Montholon  was  repeatedly  obliged  to  get  up  in 
the  night,  to  shift  her  own  and  her  children's  beds  to  different 
parts  of  the  room,  in  order  to  escape  being  deluged.  The  con- 
struction of  the  roofs  rendered  this  irremediable,  as  a  few  hours 
of  sunshine  produced  fresh  leaks. 

6^//. — Napoleon  in  very  good  spirits.  Mentioned  Marquis 
Cornwallis  in  terms  of  great  praise.  "  Cornwallis,"  said  he, 
"  was  a  man  of  proltity,  a  generous  and  sincere  character.  Un 
trh-bnive  homme^  (a  very  brave  man.)  He  was  the  man  who 
first  gave  me  a  good  opinion  of  the  English  ;  his  integi'ity,  fidelity, 
frankne.-^s,  and   the  nobleness  of  his  sentiments,   impressed   me 

*  All  the  additioti.s  made  to  the  old  buildinp  were  roofed  in  this  manner 
As  this  book  rauy  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  readers  who  may  not  credit  the 
above  deHcription  of  Longwood  House,  I  beg  to  call  the  attention  of  respectable 
persons  who  may  touch  at  St.  Helena,  to  the  state  of  the  house  in  wliieh  the 
exiled  sovereign  of  France  breathed  his  last  after  six  years  of  captivity.  To  them 
I  confidently  appeal  for  a  confirmation  of  the  above,  and  of  the  description  of  the 
'uUind  in  the  Appendix. 


1817 — APRIL.  806 

with  a  very  favorable  opinion  of  you.  1  recollect  Cornwallis 
saying,  one  day,  '  There  are  certain  qualities  which  may  be 
bought,  but  a  good  character,  sincerity,  a  proper  pride,  and  calm- 
ness in  the  hour  of  danger,  are  not  to  be  purchased.'  These 
words  made  an  impression  upon  me.  I  gave  him  a  regiment  of 
cavalry  to  amuse  himself  with  at  Amiens,  which  used  to  manoe- 
uvre before  him.  The  officers  of  it  loved  him  much.  I  do  not 
believe  that  he  was  a  man  of  first  rate  abilities,  but  he  had  talent, 
great  probity,  and  sincerity.  He  never  broke  his  word.  At 
Amiens,  the  treaty  was  ready,  and  was  to  be  signed  by  him  at 
the  Hotel-de-Ville,  at  nine  o'clock.  Something  happened  which 
prevented  him  from  going ;  but  he  sent  word  to  the  French  min- 
isters, that  they  might  consider  the  treaty  as  having  been  sign- 
ed, and  that  he  would  sign  it  the  following  day.  A  courier  from 
England  arrived  at  night,  with  directions  for  him  to  refuse  his 
consent  to  certain  articles,  and  not  to  sign  the  treaty.  Though 
Cornwallis  had  not  signed  it,  and  might  have  easily  availed  him- 
self of  this  order,  he  was  a  man  of  such  strict  honor,  that  he  said 
he  considered  his  promise  to  be  equivalent  to  his  signature,  and 
wrote  to  his  government  that  he  had  promised,  and  that  having 
once  pledged  his  word,  he  would  keep  it.  That  if  they  were  not 
satisfied,  they  might  refuse  to  ratify  the  treaty.  There  was  a 
man  of  honor — a  true  Englishman.  Such  a  man  as  Cornwallis 
ought  to  have  been  sent  here,  instead  of  a  compound  of  false- 
hood, suspicion,  and  meanness.  I  was  much  grieved  when  I 
heard  of  his  death.  Some  of  his  family  occasionally  wrote  to  me, 
to  request  favors  for  some  prisoners,  which  1  always  complied 
with." 

He  then  spoke  about  his  having  given  himself  up  to  the  Eng- 
lish, and  observed,  "  My  having  given  myself  up  to  you,  is  not  so 
simple  a  matter  as  you  imagine.  Before  I  went  to  Elba,  Lord 
Castlereagh  ofl^ered  me  an  asylum  in  England,  and  said,  that  I 
should  be  very  well  treated  there,  and  much  better  off  than  at 
Elba."  I  said,  that  Lord  Castlereagh  was  reported  to  have  as 
sorted  that  he  (Napoleon)  had  applied  for  an  asylum  in  England, 
but  that  it  was  not  thought  proper  to  grant  it.  "The  real  fact," 
said  Napoleon,  "  is,  that  he  first  proposed  it.     Before  1  went  to 


808  A    VOICK    FUOM    ST.    IIKLKNA. 

Elba,  Lord  Custlrreagh  said  to  Caiilaiiicourt,  '  Why  duos  Na- 
poleon think  of  goinji  to  Ell»a?  Li't  him  come  to  England.  IIo 
will  l>e  received  in  London  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  and  will 
experience  the  best  possible  treatment.  He  mnst  not,  however, 
ask  permission  to  come,  I)eeause  that  would  take  up  too  much 
time  ;  but  let  him  give  hiniscll'  ui>  to  us,  without  making  any 
conditions,  and  he  will  be  received  with  the  greatest  joy,  and  be 
much  better  than  at  Ell)a.'  This,"  added  he,  "  had  much  in- 
fluence with  me  afterwards." 

On  asking  Napoleon  his  opinion  of  Baron  Stein,  he  replied,  "A 
patriot,  a  man  of  talent,  and  a  busy  stirring  character."  I  ob- 
served, that  I  had  heard  it  asserted,  that  Stein  had  done  him 
more  mischief  than  Metternich,  or  indeed  any  other  person,  and 
had  been  mainly  instrumental  to  his  fall,  "  Not  at  all,"  replied 
Napoleon  ;  "  he  was  certainly  a  man  of  talent,  but  had  his  advice 
been  followed,  the  King  of  Prussia  would  have  been  ruined  past 
all  redemption ;  as  Stein  was  always  hatching  intrigues,  and 
wanted  Prussia  to  declare  prematurely  against  me,  which  would 
have  caused  her  destruction.  The  king,  however,  was  better 
advised,  and  did  not  declare  himself  until  the  proper  time  had 
arrived,  that  is  to  say,  until  that  accident  of  Russia,  of  which  he 
took  immediate  advantage."  A  pause  now  took  place,  Napoleon 
walked  a  few  paces,  stopped,  looked  at  me,  and  said,  in  an  ex- 
pressive manner,  "  None  but  myself  ever  did  me  any  harm ;  I 
was,  I  may  say,  the  only  enemy  to  myself;  my  own  projects, 
that  expedition  to  Moscow,  and  the  accidents  which  happened 
there,  were  the  causes  of  my  fall,  I  may,  however,  say,  that 
those  who  made  no  opposition  to  me,  who  readily  agreed  with 
rae,  entered  into  all  my  views,  and  submitted  with  facility,  were 
those  who  did  me  the  most  injury,  and  were  my  greatest  enemies; 
because,  by  the  facility  of  conquest  they  afforded,  they  encourag- 
ed me  to  go  too  far.  They  were  more  my  enemies  than  those 
who  formed  intrigues  against  me,  because  the  latter  put  me  upon 
my  guard,  and  rendered  me  more  careful.  I  caused  Stein  to  be 
sent  away  from  the  court  of  Prussia.  It  would,  however,  have 
been  very  fortunate  for  me,  if  his  projects  had  been  followed,  a8 
Prussia  would  have  broken  out  prematurely,  and  1  should  have 


1811 — APRIL.  307 

extinguished  her  like  that,"  (raising  one  of  his  feet,  and  stamping, 
as  if  he  were  putting  out  the  snufF  of  a  candle ;)  "  I  could,"  con- 
tinued he,  "have  dethroned  the  King  of  Prussia,  or  the  Emperor 
of  Austria,  upon  the  slightest  pretext,  as  easily  as  I  do  this," 
stretching  out  one  of  his  legs.  "  I  was  then  too  powerful  for  any 
man,  except  myself,  to  injure  me." 

I  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  said  something  of  the  following 
tenor  relative  to  Metternich :  "  One  or  two  lies  are  sometimes 
necessary,  but  Metternich  is  all  lies.  Nothing  but  lies,  lies,  lies, 
lies,  from  him  !"  Napoleon  laughed  and  said,  "  C^esf  vrai,  (it 
is  true.)  He  is  composed  of  nothing  but  lies  and  intrigues." 
I  asked  if  he  were  not  a  man  of  great  talent  1  "  Not  at  all,"  re- 
plied he,  "  e  bugiardo  ed  intrigante,  intrigante  e  bugiardo*  That 
is  the  sum  total  of  his  character. 

"  Lord  Whitworth,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  in  that  famous  in- 
terview  which  he  had  with  me,  during  which  I  was  by  no  means 
violent,  said  on  leaving  the  room,  that  he  was  well  satisfied  with 
me,  and  contented  with  the  manner  in  which  1  had  treated  him, 
and  hoped  that  all  would  go  on  well.  This  he  said  to  some  of 
the  ambassadors  of  the  other  powers.  A  few  days  afterwards 
when  the  English  newspapers  arrived  with  his  account  of  the  in- 
terview, stating  that  1  had  been  in  such  a  rage,  it  excited  the 
astonishment  of  every  body  ;  especially  of  those  ambassadors, 
who  remonstrated  with  him  and  said,  '  My  Lord,  how  can  this 
account  be  correct.  You  know  that  you  allowed  to  us  that  you 
were  well  contented  and  satisfied  with  your  reception,  and 
stated  your  opinion  that  all  would  go  on  well.'  He  did  not 
know  what  to  answer,  and  said,   '  but  this  account  is  also  true.' " 

"Your  ministers  never  publish  the  facts,"  continued  he:  "if 
this  governor  sent  no  other  accounts  of  the  battles,  and  other 
circumstances,  than  those  that  were  published  in  the  papers,  he 
betrayed  his  country  ;  as  they  are  almost  all  false,  similar  to 
those  of  others  employed  on  your  political  missions.  A  false 
account  is  sent  to  be  submitted  to  the  public,  and  deposited  in 
the  archives  ;  and  a  secret  one,  stating  the  truth,  for  your  minis- 
ters themselves  to  act  upon,  but  never  to  be  produced.  So  that 
*  Ho  is  a  liur  and  an  intriguer — an  intriguer  and  a  liar. 


808  A    VOICK    FKOM    ST.    UKl.ENA. 

your  ministers,  upon  an  inquiry  being  made  by  parliament,  have 
H  sot  of  documents  in  llie  archives  ready  to  submit  for  inspection  ; 
from  whence  conclusions  are  to  be  drawn,  and  decisiitns  made. 
In  this  nnmnor,  though  the  contents  are  untrue,  the  ministers: 
cannot  be  accused  of  imposing  false  statements  upon  the  parlia- 
ment because  they  were  officially  transmitted  to  them,  and  the 
public  and  parliament  are  satisfied.  References  are  made,  and 
every  thing  appears  satisfactory,  though  the  ground-work  of  the 
whole  is  false.  In  consequence  of  having  been  so  long  opposed 
to  your  ministers,  there  is  nobody  knows  them  better  than  I  do. 
Your  system  is  a  compound  of  lies  and  truth.  In  no  other 
ministry  in  the  world  is  there  so  much  macliiavelism  practiced  ; 
because  you  have  so  much  to  defend,  and  so  many  important 
points  to  contest  against  the  rest  of  Europe,  and  because  you  are 
obliged  to  enter  into  explanations  with  the  nation." 

I  mentioned  to  Napoleon  that  it  had  been  stated  in  one  of  the 
papers,  that  he  had  once  sent  a  shipwright  to  Algiers  or  Tunis, 
in  order  to  teach  the  pirates  ship-building.  He  replied,  "  Never. 
It  is  possible  that  they  may  have  got  a  Frenchman  as  a  ship- 
builder, but  not  with  my  consent.  They  might  have  procured 
some  person  from  Marseilles.  At  Constantinople,  when  the 
Turks  were  at  war  with  France,  there  was  a  ship-builder  named 
Le  Musa.  Instead  of  succoring  the  pirates,  I  proposed  to  Eng- 
land to  exterminate  them,  or  at  least  to  oblige  them  to  live  like 
honest  people,  to  which  your  ministers  would  not  consent.  There 
was  nobody  who  disliked  or  despised  those  canaglie  of  pirates 
more  than  I  did,  or  who  treated  them  more  like  dogs.  It  was 
not  the  policy  of  the  English  ministers  to  destroy  those  barba- 
rians, or  else  they  would  have  done  it  long  ago.  By  permitting 
those  wretches  to  exist  and  to  plunder,  you  engrossed  the  greatest 
part  of  the  trade  of  the  Mediterranean  to  yourselves;  because 
the  Swedes,  Danes,  Portuguese,  and  others,  were  afraid  to  send 
their  ships  there ;  and  consequently  fluring  the  war,  you  had 
almost  all  the  Mediterranean  trade.  The  reason  you  sent  that 
expedition  to  Algiers,  was  to  ingratiate  yourselves  with  the 
Italians,  and  to  prevent  their  regretting  me.  For  1  gave  %\w 
French  flag  to  all  the  Italian  states,  and  made  the  barbarians  re 


1817— APKIL.  809 

sf'iCt  i^;  which  has  not  been  the  case  since  the  Bourbons  mounted 
the  throne.  The  Italians  would  have  been  discontented,  and  iiavo 
cried,  that  in  Napoleon's  reign,  they  were  at  least  free  from  the 
attacks  ani  piracies  of  the  Corsairs.  That  expedition  deserves  no 
credi'  except  '^r-i  the  great  bravery  and  nautical  skill  displayed 
by  the  admiral,  and  by  those  under  him.  As  to  the  negotiations, 
Lord  Exmouth  has  failed  ;  as  he  ought  to  have  made  the  extinc- 
tion of  piracy  t^  e  s;  rrender  of  their  fleet,  and  an  obligation  to 
build  no  moie  ships  of  war,  (unless  the  Grand  Signor  made  war 
upon  som  .  of  .ne  ?^uropean  powers,)  the  sine  qua  noti.  You  say 
that  it  nas  been  stipulated  that  only  prisoners,  and  not  slaves, 
are  in  future  to  be  made.  I  fear  much  that  if  any  difference  be 
made  am  nps';  those  barbarians  between  the  lot  of  prisoner  and 
of  slave^  it  will  be  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  former.  For  those 
wretch  ^j  had  some  interest  in  preserving  the  lives  of  their  slaves 
in  order  to  obtain  their  ransom ;  whereas  with  prisoners  they 
will  have  no  such  expectation  ;  and  therefore  giving  way  to  their 
natural  cruelty  and  deadly  hatred  of  Christians,  they  will  in  all 
probability  mutilate  and  put  them  to  cruel  deaths.  I  think  that 
your  ministers  ordered  Lord  Exmouth  not  to  endeavor  to  abolish 
piracy  altogether,  but  merely  to  give  it  a  check,  to  punish  the 
Algerines  in  a  certain  degree,  cause  your  flag  to  be  respected, 
and  gain  the  favor  of  the  Italians  and  other  Mediterranean  states, 
which  you  have  lost  by  your  having  so  basely  given  them  up  to 
their  oppressors. — For,  if  the  pirates  were  totally  annihilated, 
all  nations  could  trade  securely  in  the  Mediterranean,  which  would 
not  agree  with  your  ideas  of  engrossing  the  principal  share  of  the 
commerce  of  that  sea.  Your  ministers  would  not  wish  to  seethe 
Corsairs  destroyed.  You  say  that  the  expedition  gave  an  eclai 
to  your  marine.*  Certainly  it  was  a  very  gallant  affair;  but 
your  marine  has  no  occasion  for  another  eclat.  My  opinion  is 
that  it  was  a  very  ill  advised  expedition.  You  ran  the  risk  of 
being  drubbed  by  barbarians,  and  of  losing  two  or  three  ships. 
Even  with  your  victory,  you  may  say  that  you  lost  a  thousand 

*  I  had  observed,  that  in  consequence  of  the  checks  we  had  sustained  from 
the  Americans,  it  was  desirable  that  our  navy  should  wind  up  by  doing  some- 
thing brilliant. 


810  A    VOICE    VlUn\    ST.    nKLKNA. 

men  in  killed  and  disuMod,  and  got  livi-  or  six  ships  kntcke'7  ti 
iM'^cos.  Now  thi>  livos  and  limbs  of  a  thousand  brave  English, 
soanion  are  of  more  value  and  consequence  than  the  tchole  of  (ht 
piratical  sfatcs.  Bl<.>ekading  the  jxirt  with  a  seventy-four  and  two 
or  three  frigates,  under  Captains  Usher  and  Maitland,  would  have 
•jained  you  just  as  good  terms  as  you  have  got,  without  the  loss 
•f  a  man.'' 

"I  always  had  a  high  opinion  of  your  seamen,"  continued  Na- 
poleon. '•  When  I  was  returning  from  Holland  along  with  the 
Empress  Marie  Louise,  we  stopped  to  rest  at  Givet.  During 
the  night,  a  violent  storm  of  wind  and  rain  came  on,  which 
swelled  the  Meuse  so  much  that  the  bridge  of  boats  over  it  was 
carried  away.  I  was  very  anxious  to  depart;  and  ordered  all 
the  boatmen  in  the  place  to  be  assembled  that  I  might  be  ena- 
bled to  cross  the  river.  They  said  that  the  waters  were  so  high 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  pass  before  two  or  three  days.  1 
questioned  some  of  them,  and  soon  discovered  that  they  were 
fresh-water  seamen.  I  then  recollected  that  there  were  English 
prisoners  in  the  caserns ;  and  ordered  that  some  of  the  oldest 
and  best  seamen  amongst  them  should  be  brought  before  me  to 
the  banks  of  the  river.  The  waters  were  very  high,  and  the  cur- 
rent rapid  and  dangerous,  I  asked  them  if  they  could  join  a 
number  of  boats  so  that  1  might  pass  over.  They  answered  that 
it  was  possible,  but  hazardous.  1  desired  them  to  set  about  it 
instantly.  In  the  course  of  a  few  hours  they  succeeded  in  effect- 
ing what  the  other  imbeciles  had  pronounced  to  be  impossible; 
and  I  crossed  before  the  evening  was  over.  I  ordered  those  who 
had  worked  at  it  to  receive  a  sum  of  money  each,  a  suit  of 
clothes,  and  their  liberty.  Marchand  was  with  me  at  the  time." 
"  When  1  landed  at  Elba,"  added  he,  "  with  Usher,  my  guard 
had  not  arrived,  and  Usher  gave  me  one  composed  of  his  marines 
under  the  command  of  a  sous  officier  (subaltern),  who  constantly 
remained  at  Porto  Ferrajo,  and  formed  my  body-guard  for  some 
days.  I  had  every  reason  to  be  contented  with  them.  When 
my  own  guard  arrived,  they  contracted  a  friendship  with  the  ma- 
rines and  the  sailors.  They  were  frequently  seen  rolling  about 
in  the  streets  drunk,  locked  arm  in  arm,  singing  and   shaking 


1817 — APRIL.  81 1 

hands  with  each  other.  Your  seamen  were  surprised  at  the 
familiarity  with  which  I  treated  them,  which  was  so  different 
fk)m  the  aristocratic  morgue  to  which  they  had  generally  been 
accustomed.  I  believe  that  not  a  man  in  the  ship  would  have 
injured  me  if  it  were  in  his  power.  When  I  left  them,  I  ordered 
a  Napoleon  to  be  given  to  each,  and  I  made  Usher  a  present  of  a 
box,  with  my  picture  set  round  with  diamonds.  If  I  had  had 
such  able  seamen  as  Usher  for  officers,  the  naval  combats  between 
the  French  ships  and  yours  would  have  terminated  very  differ- 
ently." 

I  mentioned  that  the  governor  had  said  he  wished  to  have 
some  conversation  with  Count  Bertrand  relative  to  the  ride 
towards  Woody  Range,  and  had  said  that  if  the  count  would 
give  an  assurance  that  certain  houses  would  not  be  entered,  it 
might  be  arranged.  "What  houses  are  there?"  replied  Napo- 
leon, "  Miss  Mason's,  and  that  of  Legge,  the  carpenter.  Is  he 
afraid  of  Miss  Robinson's  virtue?  Beiise  (nonsense),  if  I  wished 
to  correspond,  you  well  know  that  I  could  cause  letters  to  be 
sent  to  Europe  every  day." 

8^/t. — On  the  7th,  the  races  were  held  at  Dead  wood,  at  which 
Madame  Sturmer,  the  three  commissioners,  and  Captain  Gor, 
were  present.  General  Gourgaud  also  went,  and  had  a  long  con- 
versation with  Baron  and  Baroness  Sturmer,  Count  Balmaine, 
and,  latterly,  Marquis  Montchenu.  During  the  greatest  part  of 
the  time,  no  British  officer  listened  to  them.  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
and  Sir  Thomas  Reade  were  spectators  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  time.  Lady  Lowe  was  also  present.  Towards  the  end  of 
the  races,  the  Commissioners,  Madame  Sturmer,  and  Baroti 
Gourgaud,  went  to  Mrs.  Younghusband's  house  in  camp,  where 
they  remained  together  for  some  time,  before  any  of  the  gover- 
nor's officers  followed  them.  Mentioned  to  Sir  Hudson  Lowe 
the  opinion  which  Napoleon  had  expressed  of  Marquis  Cornwal- 
lis,  to  which  his  excellency  replied  that  "  Lord  Cornwallis  was 
too  honest  a  man  to  deal  with  him." 

Napoleon  went  down  to  Count  Bertrand's,  where  he  had  from 
the  upper  windows  a  good  view  of  the  races,  at  which  he  re- 
mained until  they  were  finished,  and  appeared  to  be  highly 
entertained. 


tli  A    VOICE    FROM    ST.    HELENA. 

Bir  Thoiras  Tuado  oxpressed  great  anger  towards  Mrs.  Younjj 
lioshand  for  having  iiivitod  the  commissioners  and  (ieneral  Gour 
gaui'  together,  without  having  J)een  aoa)m|)anied,  and  said  that 
the  governor  had  a  right  and  ought  to  turn  her  ofV  the  isJand  for 
it,  adding,  that  the  ct>mmissioners  themselves  were  mean  wretches, 
for  having  spoken  to  Gourgaud,  when  his  master  treated  them 
with  such  contempt. 

Napoleon  walked  out  tvr  some  time  with  Counts  Montholon 
and  Bertrand.  Saw  him  at  mid-day.  He  asked  many  questions 
about  the  races,  in  which  he  appeared  to  take  interest.  Ob- 
served, that  from  what  he  had  heard,  Montchenu  must  have  been 
very  badly  educated,  as  he  had  made  use  of  very  improper  and 
even  indecent  language  before  Lady  Lowe,  on  occasion  of  the 
breeze  (which  was  very  smart)  having  interferred  with  some 
lady's  drapery.  "  In  general,"  said  Napoleon,  "  Frenchmen  at 
his  time  of  life  are  proverbially  polite  ;  but  from  what  I  have 
heard,  this  man  never  could  have  been  brought  up  in  good 
company,  and  has  Pair  d\m  sons  lieutenant  de  Vancien  regime^^ 
(the  manners  of  an  under  lieutenant  of  the  old  dynasty). 

Mr.  Rainsford,  the  minister  of  police,  died  on  the  7th. 

lAtk. — General  Gourgaud,  while  going  through  the  camp,  went 
into  the  apartments  of  Major  Fehrzen  of  the  53d  regiment,  where 
he  remained  for  a  few  minutes. 

Iblh. — Sir  Hudson  Lowe  sent  for  the  orderly  officer,  and  de- 
manded "  What  business  General  Gourgaud  had  to  enter  Major 
Fehrzeii's  rooms?" 

Saw  Napoleon,  who  was  reclining  upon  his  sofa.  Very  anxious 
L  his  inquiries  aVjout  the  health  of  Madame  Bertrand,  Tristan  de 
Montholon,  and  the  little  Napoleonnc,  both  of  whom  were  very 
unwell,  especially  Tristan,  who  labored  under  a  severe  attack  of 
dysentery  of  a  highly  inflammatory  nature,  and  for  which  1  had 
bled  him.  When  I  told  Napoleon  that  the  bleeding  had  afforded 
the  child  great  relief,  "  Ah,"  said  he,  "  experience — experience  ia 
everything."* 

Showed  him  a  very  curious  edict  which  had  been  issued  by 

•  Napoleon  had  frequently  before  condemned  the  practice  of  Weeding,  vUoi 
he  maintained  was  abstracting  so  much  of  one's  life. 


1817--APRTL.  818 

the  Emperor  of  China  relative  to  the  English  ambassador,  and 
explained  the  purport  of  it.  After  he  had  heard  what  I  had  to 
say,  he  said  that  he  was  still  of  opinion  that  the  amhassadoi 
ought  to  have  complied  with  such  ceremonies  as  were  practiced 
by  the  first  mandarins  of  the  empire  towards  the  emperor  :  that 
the  Chinese  did  not  ask  us  to  send  ambassadors  to  them.  That 
OUT  having  sent  one,  was  a  proof  that  we  had  some  favor  to  ask, 
or  some  object  to  gain  ;  therefore,  we  ought  to  have  complied 
with  their  customs,  or  else  not  have  sent  an  ambassador  out, 
"  You  ought,"  continued  he,  "  to  have  treated  those  brutes  like 
children — to  have  humored  them,  in  fact,  as  if  you  had  sent  an 
ambassador  to  the  moon.  I  recollect  having  had  a  conversation 
on  the  subject  at  Tilsit  with  the  Emperor  Alexander,  when  we 
were  very  good  friends.  He  asked  my  opinion  and  advice  :  I 
gave  it  to  him  exactly  as  I  have  done  to  you.  He  was  perfectly 
convinced,  and  wrote  a  reprimand  to  his  ambassador  for  not 
having  complied  with  the  ceremonies  that  had  been  required 
from  him." 

"  When  I  was  at  war  with  Russia,"  said  he,  "  I  had  an  intention 
of  injuring  the  Russians  in  their  Chinese  trade,  by  inciting  the 
king  of  Persia  to  make  war  upon  them,  which,  in  fact,  he  did.  I 
nad  hopes  of  causing  a  diversion  by  means  of  the  hordes  of 
Tartars  under  the  Persian  government." 

I  asked  afterwards  if  it  were  true  that  Talleyrand  had  proposed 
to  him  to  cause  all  the  Bourbons  to  be  assassinated,  and  had 
even  offered  to  negotiate  for  its  accomplishment  ?  Napoleon 
replied,  "It  is  true.  Talleyrand  proposed  and  offered  to  have  ii 
effected."  In  reply  to  a  question  of  mine,  whether  one  huudreO 
thousand  francs  was  not  the  sum  demanded,  the  emperor  answer- 
ed, "A  great  deal  more;  if  I  recollect  right,  a  million  of  franca 
for  each.  But  I  always  refused  my  consent.  There  wanted  no- 
thing but  that.     I  even  forbade  the  attempt  to  be  made." 

16//i. — Napoleon  informed  me,  that  he  was  now  employed  in 
writing  observations,  military  and  otherwise,  upon  the  seven 
years'  war  of  the  Great  Frederick,  which  would,  when  finished, 
form  two  or  three  volumes. 

Cipriani  employed  in  town  as  usual 

14 


814  A   VOICE    FROM    ST.    HELENA. 

8O//1. — Co^iiit  Biilmaiiio  and  Cajitain  Gor  oaine  up  as  far  as 
Li^ngwt^od,  Jogged  by  a  sergeant  of  the  G(>th  regiment,  dressed 
ill  plain  clothes,  who  was  in  the  oniploy  of  Sir  Thomas  Reade. 

21s/. — N.ipoloon  has  been  for  some  days  in  very  good 
spirits.  (Ml  Saturday,  the  19th,  some  captains  of  East  In 
diamen  came  to  see  Count  and  Countess  Bertranj.  Captain 
Innes,  Campbell,  and  Ripsley,  with  Mr.  Webb,  stationed  them 
selves  at  the  back  of  the  house  in  such  a  situation  as  to  be  likely 
to  see  Napoleon  on  his  return  from  Bertrand's,  where  he  had 
gone  about  four  o'clock.  Napoleon  beckoned  to,  and  conversed 
with  them  for  nearly  an  hour,  during  which  he  asked  many  ques- 
tions about  India,  the  East  India  Company,  Lord  Moira,  their 
own  profits,  &c.;  and  to  the  Commodore,  who  had  a  very  youth- 
ful appearance,  in  a  laughing  manner  he  observed,  that  he  was  a 
child,  and  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  commanding  captains  so  much 
older  than  himself. 

Asked  the  emperor  whether  it  was  at  Lodi  or  Areola  that  he 
Tiad  seized  the  standard,  and  precipitated  himself  amongst  the 
enemy's  troops.  He  replied,  "  At  Areola,  not  Lodi.  At  Areola 
I  was  slightly  wounded  ;  but  at  Lodi  no  such  circumstance  oc- 
curred. Why  do  you  ask?  Do  you  think  me  Idche  T*  said  he, 
laughing.  1  begged  to  assure  him  of  my  thorough  conviction  of 
the  contrary,  which  was  too  well  known  to  be  doubted  ;  and  that 
it  was  merely  to  solve  a  difference  of  opinion,  which  had  occurred 
between  some  of  us  English,  who  had  not  the  means  of  procur- 
ing at  6t.  Helena  any  books  to  satisfy  us  at  which  of  the  two  it 
had  occurred,  that  I  had  taken  the  liberty  to  ask  him.  "Those 
Ihingo, '  said  he,  with  a  smile,  "  are  not  worth  mentioning." 

Had  a  long  conversation  with  him  on  medical  subjects.  He 
aftpeared  to  entertain  an  idea  that  in  cases  purely  the  province 
of  the  physician,  the  patient  has  an  equal  chance  of  being  dis- 
patched to  the  other  world,  either  by  the  physician  mistaking 
the  cornj>laint,  or  by  the  remedies  administered  operating  in  a 
dillerent  manner  from  what  was  intended  and  expected,  and  was 
ior  trusting  entirely  to  nature.  With  respect  to  surgery,  he  pro- 
fessed a  far  different  opinion,  and  acknowledged  the  great  utility 

•  Cowardly. 


1817 — APRIL.  gl6 

of  that  science.     I   endeavored   to  convince  him,  that  in  some 
complaints,  nature  was  a  bad  physician,  and  mentioned  in  prooi 
of  my  argument  the  examples  which  had  taken  place  under  hia 
own  eyes  of  the  cases  of  Countess  Montholon,  General  Gour 
gaud,  Tristan,  and   others ;  who,   if  left  to  nature,  would   have 
gone  to  the  other  world.     I  observed,  that  in  practice  we  always 
had  a  certain  object  in  view,  and  never  prescribed  remedies  with- 
out first  having  considered  well  what  we  had  to  expect  from 
their   operation.     Napoleon,    however,   was   skeptical ;    and  in- 
clined to  think  that  if  they  had  taken  no  medicine,  maintained 
strict  abstinence  from  every  thing  except  plenty  of  diluents,  they 
would  have  done  equally  well.     However,  after  having  heard  all 
my  arguments,  he  said,  "Well,  perhaps  if  ever  I  have  a  serious 
malady,  1   may  change  my  opinion,  take  all  your  medicines,  and 
do  what  you  please.     I  should  like  to  know  what  sort  of  patient 
I  should  make,  or  whether  I  should  be  tractable  or  otherwise.     I 
am  inclined  to  think  the  former."     I  reasoned  with  him  after- 
wards  about  inflammation   of  the  lungs,  and  asked   him  if  he 
thought  that  nature,  if  left  to  herself,  would  eft'ect  a  cure  in  that 
complaint.     He  appeared   a  little  staggered  at  this  at  first ;  but 
after  asking  me  what  were  the  remedies,  to  which  I  replied  that 
venesection   was  the   sheet   anchor,   he    said,    "  That  complaint 
belongs  to  the  surgeon,  because  he  cures  it  with  his  lancet,  and 
not  to  the  physician."     1   then  mentioned  dysentery  and  inter- 
mittent fevers.     "The  remedies  given  in   intermittent   fevers," 
said   he,  "  frequently  produce  worse  complaints  than  the  disease 
that  they  remove.     Suppose  now  that  the  best  informed  physi- 
cian visits  forty  patients  a  day  ;   amongst  them  he  will  kill  one 
or  twc   a  month  by  mistaking  the  disease,  and  in   the  country 
towns,  the  charlatans  will  kill  about  half  of  those  who  die  under 
their  hands." 

"  The  country  towns  in  England,  as  well  as  in  France,"  said 
he,  "abound  with  Moliere's  doctors.  Are  you  a  fatalist?"  I 
repl.'ed,  "in  action  I  am."  "Why  not  every whtM-e  else?"  said 
the  emperor;  I  said,  that  I  believed  a  man's  dissolution,  in  cer- 
tain cases,  to  be  inevitable  if  he  did  not  endeavor,  by  proper 
means  placed  in  his  power,  to  prevent  his  fate.     For  example,  I 


SIS  A    VOICE    FROM    ST.    HKLENA. 

said,  that  if  a  man  in  battlo  saw  a  cannoii  shot  coming  towards 
him,  as  somotinies  happened,  ho  would  naturally  step  to  fnie 
side,  and  thereby  avoid  an  otherwise  inevitable  death  which 
comparison  I  thought  would  hold  good  with  certain  complaints 
by  Cf>nsiderinij  the  ball  t<>  be  the  disease,  and  stepping  aside,  the 
remedy.  Napoleon  replied,  "  Perhaps  by  stepping  to  one  side, 
you  may  throw  yourself  in  the  way  of  another  ball,  which  other- 
wise would  have  missed  you.  I  remember,"  added  he,  "an  ex- 
ample of  what  I  tell  you  having  occurred  at  Toulon,  when  I  com- 
manded the  artillery.  There  were  some  Marseilloise  artillery- 
men sent  to  the  siege.  Now  of  all  the  people  in  France,  the 
Marseilloise  are  the  least  brave,  and  indeed,  generally  speaking, 
have  but  little  energy.  I  observed  an  officer  to  be  very  careful 
of  himself,  like  the  rest,  instead  of  showing  an  example.  I  there- 
fore called  out  and  said,  '  Monsieur  officer,  come  out  and  observe 
the  effect  of  your  shot.  You  do  not  know  whether  your  guns 
are  well  pointed  or  not.'  At  this  time  we  were  firing  upon  the 
English  ships.  I  desired  him  to  see  if  our  shot  struck  them  in 
the  hull.  He  was  very  unwilling  to  quit  his  station;  but  at  last 
he  came  over  to  where  I  was,  a  little  outside  of  the  parapet, 
where  he  began  to  look  out.  Wishing,  however,  to  make  him- 
self small,  and  to  secure  as  much  of  his  body  as  possible,  he 
stooped  down  and  sheltered  one  side  of  his  body  behind  the 
parapet,  while  he  looked  under  my  arm.  He  had  not  been  long 
in  that  position  before  a  shot  came  close  to  me,  and  low  down, 
which  knocked  him  to  pieces.  Now,  if  this  man  had  stood  up- 
right, and  more  exposed  to  danger,  he  would  have  been  safe,  as 
the  ball  would  have  passed  between  us,  without  hurting  either." 

I  recounted  to  the  emperor,  after  this,  a  circumstance  which 
had  happened  in  the  Victorious,  seventy-four.  Captain  Talbot, 
when  I  was  on  board  of  her,  which  I  explained  minutely  to  him. 
During  the  action  with  his  ship,  the  Rivoli,  a  man  who  had  been 
slightly  wounded,  had  crept  into  the  heart  of  the  cable  tier  in  the 
orlop  deck,  and  placed  himself  amongst  the  cables  in  such  a 
manner,  that  it  appeared  to  be  a  matter  of  impossibility,  that  a 
shot  could  reach  him.  Notwithstanding  the  apparent  security  of 
the  place,  towards  the  end  of  the  action  a  shot  struck  the  ship 


1817 — APRIL.  817 

very  low  down,  penetrated  the  wings,  went  through  two  or  three 
coils  of  the  cable,  then  rose  upwards,  struck  one  of  the  beams 
which  supported  the  lower  deck,  and  being  spent,  rebounded 
back,  fell  upon  this  man's  breast,  who  was  lying  on  his  back,  and 
killed  him.  He  was  found  afterwards  with  the  shot,  (a  thirty- 
six  pounder,)  lymg  upon  his  breast. 

"This,"  said  he,  "confirms  what  I  say  to  you,  that  a  man  can- 
not avoid  his  destiny."  Napoleon  appeared  entertained  with  this 
anecdote,  and  asked,  whether  the  man  was  a  sailor  or  a  soldier  ? 
1  replied,  a  sailor. 

The  emperor  during  the  course  of  conversation,  spoke  about 
eunuchs;  the  making  of  whom,  he  observed,  was  a  most  dis- 
graceful and  horrid  practice.  "  I  put  a  stop  to  it,"  said  he,  "  in 
all  the  countries  under  my  dominion ;  even  in  Rome  itself  I  pro- 
hibited it  under  pain  of  death.  It  was  entirely  put  a  stop  to, 
and  I  believe  that  although  the  pope  and  cardinals  are  now  in 
power,  it  will  not  be  again  revived.  I  recollect,"  added  he,  "  an 
incident  with  respect  to  one  of  those  gentry  which  made  me 
laugh.  There  was  one  Crescentini,  an  excellent  singer,  who  often 
sang  before  me,  and  delighted  me  much.  As  I  wished  to  encou- 
rage merit  in  every  science,  and  as  it  was  his  misfortune  and  not 
his  fault,  to  have  been  mutilated,  having  been  probably  only  two 
or  three  years  old  when  it  was  performed,  1  conferred  upon  him 
the  knighthood  of  the  iron  crown.  This,  however,  displeased  a 
great  many,  who  said  that  a  thing  who  was  not  a  man  ought  not 
to  have  an  order  for  manhood  conferred  upon  him.  There  were 
great  discussions  about  it,  in  which  Madame  Grassini,  whom  I 
suppose  you  know,  took  a  part.  Whilst  others  were  blaming 
me,  Grassini  said,  'I  really  think  the  emperor  has  done  right  in 
giving  it  to  him  ;  I  think  that  he  deserves  it.'  Being  asked  why, 
she  replied,  '  I  think  he  merits  it,  if  it  were  only  on  account  of 
his  wounds.^  This  sally  produced  the  greatest  laughter,  and 
turned  the  business  completely.  1  believe  that  no  person  laughed 
more  at  it  than  myself." 

23«?. — Yesterday  Napoleon  was  indisposed,  and  had  recourse 
to  his  customary  remedies,  diet  and  diluents.     He  remained  all 


S18  A   VOICE   FHOM    ST.    HELENA. 

day  in  his  Itedroom,  and  ate  notliing.  Told  mo  that  he  had  riseft 
at  throe  in  the  morning,  and  wrote  or  dictated  all  day. 

Gave  him  two  or  three  newspapers.  He  repeated  his  disbe- 
lief of  the  rumor  of  war  being  likely  to  take  place  between  Rus- 
sia and  America,  as  it  was  contrary  to  the  interest  of  both. 

General  Gourgaud  the  day  before  yesterday  rode  out  towards 
the  alarm  house,  and  on  his  way  met  the  Russian  commissioner 
and  Captain  Gor,  with  whom  he  conversed  for  a  considerable  time. 
They  were  seen  by  Captain  Poppjeton,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
dine  at  Plantation  House.  When  his  excellency  was  informed 
of  this,  he  said  at  first  that  Captain  Poppleton  ought  to  have 
remained  with  them  to  listen;  but  when  it  was  explained  to  him 
that  he  could  not  have  done  so  without  atTronting  them,  as  Gene- 
ral Gourgaud  knew  that  he  was  to  dine  at  Plantation  House,  he 
acknowledged  that  it  could  not  have  been  done. 

This  day,  however,  a  note  came  from  Major  Gorrequer,  stating 
that  the  governor  wanted  to  see  Captain  Poppleton  directly,  and 
that  he  was  required  to  write  an  official  statement  of  what  he 
had  seen  take  place  yesterday  between  the  commissioner  and 
Gourgaud.  That  the  governor  regretted  he  had  not  followed  and 
kept  company  with  them,  in  pursuance  of  the  conversation  he 
had  had  with  him  (Captain  Poppleton)  in  town  on  a  certain  day. 
In  this  conversation  the  governor  said  he  expected  that  he  would, 
whenever  he  saw  them  speaking  together,  drop  in  as  it  were  by 
accident,  and  make  one  of  their  party. 

These  precautions  appeared  curious,  as  the  parties  had  a  long 
interview  together  at  the  last  races,  before  the  governor  himself 
and  his  staff,  without  molestation. 

Saw  Naptjleon  in  the  evening  again,  who  declared  himself  to 
be  quite  well.  He  spoke  of  the  time  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
devf)ting  to  business  when  in  Paris.  That  ocasionally  he  used 
to  dictate  to  four  different  secretaries  at  a  time,  all  upon  dif- 
ferent subjects,  and  sometimes  even  to  five,  each  writing  as  fast 
as  he  could.  Made  some  observations  upon  the  Emperor  of 
Austria.  Observed  that  if  he  were  in  his  power,  no  treatment 
could  be  too  good,  or  limits  too  extensive.     The  emperor  he 


1817 — APRIL.  819 

Drouounced  to  be  a  good  and  religious  man,  but  a  ganache  *  A 
man  who,  though  he  did  not  want  common  sense,  never  did  any 
ining  of  liimself,  but  was  always  led  by  the  nose  by  Metternich 
or  some  one  else.  As  long  as  he  had  a  bad  minister,  his  govern- 
ment would  be  bad,  as  he  entirely  trusted  to  him,  and  only  paid 
attention  to  botany  and  gardening. 

24<^, — Napoleon  in  very  good  spirits.  Very  curious  in  his 
inquiries  about  Murat's  expedition  against  Sicily.  Asked  me  to 
describe  minutely  the  strength  of  the  English  force  which  had 
then  occupied  Sicily,  and  appeared  surprised  when  I  said  that  it 
had  amounted  to  about  twenty  thousand  English,  Hanoverians,  &;c. 
lie  asked  if  I  thought  that  Murat  would  have  succeeded  in  taking 
the  island,  if  he  had  landed. f  I  replied  that  I  believed  not,  as, 
independent  of  the  formidable  English  force  against  him,  the 
Sicilians  themselves  in  general  hated  the  French,  and  declared 
that  they  would  have  caused  another  "Sicilian  Vespers"  if  they 
came.  He  asked  "  how  many  troops  Ferdinand  had  ?"  I  replied, 
perhaps  fifteen  thousand  men,  of  whom,  however,  we  were  very 
doubtful,  and  consequently  kept  near  Palermo,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  He  asked,  "  If  our  ships  could 
have  kept  the  channel  on  the  night  that  Murat  had  caused  a  laud- 
ing to  be  made  by  a  small  body,  and  whether  they  could  have 
been  kept  at  anchor  along  the  Sicilian  side  of  the  Faro  f  I  re- 
plied, that  I  had  no  doubt  the  ships  might  have  kept  the  channel 
on  that  night ;  that  they  might  also  have  remained  at  anchor 
along  the  Faro,  but  at  a  risk  during  the  Scirocco  winds,  as  the 
bottom  was  a  bad  holding  ground,  and  if  the  anchors  went,  the 
ships  must  go  on  shore.  He  asked  the  name  of  the  English 
admiral.  "That  imbecile  Murat,"  added  he,  "lost  me  about 
twelve  or  thirteen  hundred  men  by  the  foolish  disembarkation  he 
made  in  Sicily.  I  know  not  what  object  he  could  have  had  in 
view  by  thus  landing  a  few  men."  I  replied,  that  Murat  had 
said  he  intended  to  have  landed  with  his  whole  army  near  the 

•  Tluck-Bkullod  follow. 

t  it  may  be  necessary  to  explain  to  the  reader,  that  I  was  attached  to  the 
flotilla  against  Murat  in  a  mortar-boat,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Coffin, 
B.  N.,  daring  the  whole  of  the  period  alluded  to. 


920  A   VOICE   FROM  ST.   HELENA. 

Faro,  while  this  small  body  was  intt'iided  to  act  as  a  diversion 
"  Do  you  think  that  ho  could  have  lauded  on  that  night?"  said 
Napoleon.  I  replied,  1  thought  lie  could,  as  all  our  ships  had 
been  withdrawn  from  their  stations,  and  were  locked  up  in  the 
harbor  of  Messina.  Napoleon  said,  "  If  I  had  really  intended 
Murat  to  have  taken  Sicily,  I  would  have  pushed  out  the  Toulon 
flci't  with  thirty  thousand  men  to  eflect  a  landing  near  Palermo, 
fntin  whence  the  Heet  should  have  proceeded  directly  to  the 
Faro,  to  cover  Murat's  landing.  But  it  was  only  intended  to 
keep  your  English  army  doing  nothing  in  Sicily  by  means  of  the 
catiaglie*  under  Murat,f  and  not  to  take  Sicily,  as  there  were 
few  French  troops  with  him,  and  I  was  apprehensive  that  your 
army  might  have  been  employed  elsewhere  against  me."  ] 
asked  if  there  had  been  any  secret  treaty  between  Murat  and  the 
English  admiral  and  general,  to  allow  Murat  to  withdraw  with 
his  boats  and  troops  without  molestation.  "No,"  said  the  em- 
peror, "  none  that  I  know  of.  Why  do  you  ask  such  a  question  ?" 
I  replied,  "  Because  so  little  had  been  done  to  annoy  them  in 
their  retreat,  that  I  often  thought  that  some  agreement  must  have 
been  made  to  let  Murat  withdraw  quietly  with  his  troops,  provid- 
ed he  abandoned  his  enterprise."  He  laughed,  and  said,  "  There 
was  none,  at  least  to  my  knowledge." 

I  then  mentioned  to  him  the  plot  to  massacre  the  English 
officers,  and  drive  the  English  out  of  Sicily,  said  to  have  been 
discovered  in  1810,  (I  think)  by***  "Caroline,"  said  he, 
"  was  very  capable  of  forming  such  a  plot.  I  believe,  however, 
that  *  *  invented  a  great  part  of  it,  and  also  betrayed  you  at  the 
lime  that  he  pretended  to  make  such  important  discoveries. 
Murat  got  information  from  some  officer  in  the  English  service." 
1  said  that  *  *  *  had  frequently  gone  over  to  Calabria  disguised 

*  Mob. 

t  Murat  was  not  aware  of  this.  He  wa.s  sincere  in  his  intentions  of  landing  in 
Sicily  ;  but  on  the  night  in  which  he  wanted  to  embark  all  his  army  for  that  pur- 
pose, General  Grenier,  who  commanded  the  French  troops  with  him,  showed 
him  an  order  prohibiting  them  to  make  the  attempt.  This  1  iiuve  been  since 
informed  V)y  a  person  who  was  minister  at  the  time  to  the  unfortunate  King 
Joachim. 


1817— APRIL.  321 

as  a  peasant.     "  Very  probably  he  betrayed  you  every  time  he 
vent,"  replied  Napoleon. 

He  spoke  about  the  Corsicans  :  observed  that  they  were  brave 
and  revengeful  by  nature — the  best  friends,  and  the  most  inex 
orable  enemies  in  the  world.  "  Their  prominent  national  cha 
racter,"  added  he,  "is  never  to  forget  a  benefit  or  an  injury 
For  the  slightest  insult  in  Corsica,  ^ma  archibvgiata*  Murders 
are  consequently  very  common.  At  the  same  time,  no  people 
are  more  grateful  for  benefits  conferred,  and  they  will  not  scruple 
to  sacrifice  their  lives  for  the  person  who  bestowed  them." 

'^bth. — Had  some  conversation  with  Napoleon  relative  to  Count 
Bertrand  having  been  stopped  by  the  sentinel  a  few  days  back, 
when  going  down  towards  Mr.  Whilton's  cottage.  Napoleon 
said  that  he  supposed  the  sentinel  had  orders  to  stop  all  suspicious 
persons,  similar  to  those  given  to  the  one  at  Hut's  Gate,  and 
observed,  in  a  laughing  manner,  that  the  French  were  the  only 
susjncious  people  in  the  island.  Told  him  that  a  report  had 
arrived  in  the  island,  of  war  having  been  declared  between  Spain 
and  America,  and  Russia  and  America.  "  Russia  and  America  1" 
said  he, — "  Impossible.  If  it  takes  place,  I  shall  never  be  aston- 
ished again  at  any  circumstance  that  happens.  The  Spaniards 
will  be  well  drubbed."  I  said  that  one  of  the  American  large 
frigates  could  take  a  Spanish  seventy-four.  This  he  would  not 
believe.  I  then  said  that  during  the  war  with  Spain,  one  of  our 
frigates,  which  were  smaller  than  the  Americans,  would  not  have 
been  afraid  to  attack  a  Spanish  seventy-four.  Napoleon  looked 
at  me  in  rather  an  incredulous  manner,  shook  his  head,  laughed, 
and  said,  "  Sempre  per  la  marina,  dotiore* — she  certainly  would 
have  been  taken."  I  replied  that  if  the  weather  was  bad,  I  did 
not  think  so.  He  said  that  there  had  never  been  an  instance  on 
record  of  a  frigate's  having  taken  a  seventy-four. 

29th. — Dined  with  Sir  Pulteney  Malcolm  in  town.  Count  Bal 
maine  came  to  pass  the  evening,  during  the  course  of  which  he 
had  a  long  conversation  with  me.  He  said  that  he  had  that  day 
met  General  Guurgaud  near  the  alarm-house,  and  that  finding 

•  A  Bhot 

f  Always  for  the  navy,  Doctor. 

14* 


822  A    \OlCK    FKoM    ST.    IlKLKNA. 

hinist'lf  in  :i  very  di'Iioati"  sitiiatitui.  he  li;ul  told  the  fronor.il  ihfl'. 
his  position  was  vorv  oniliarrjissin<;,  iis  it  appeared  that  he  (Ba'- 
maino)  was  an  oljeet  of  suspicion  to  the  governor ;  that  he  must 
consequently  lie<r  to  decline  any  further  communication  with  him 
lieyond  the  custi>mary  salutations  of  politeness,  iiowev(\r  uiiplea 
sant  it  was  to  do  so  in  a  place  where  there  was  so  little  French 
society,  until  after  the  arrival  of  the  Conqueror,  by  which  vessel 
he  expected  instructions  of  importance,  and  such  as  would  clearly 
point  out  to  him  the  line  of  conduct  which  he  was  in  future  to 
pursue.  That  in  doing  this,  he  had  rather  gone  beyond  his  pre- 
sent instructions,  which  were  not  to  eviier  ccs  messieurs  la*  but 
to  treat  them  precisely  as  he  did  the  inhabitants  and  other  resi- 
dents on  the  island  ;  that  he  could  not  account  for  the  suspicion 
manifested  by  the  governor,  as  it  would  not  be  supposed  that  he 
was  sent  to  betray. 

Cipriani  in  town.  On  his  return  he  related  the  obligations  he 
was  under  to  Sir  Thomas  Reade,  who  was  very  busily  employed 
in  assisting  him  to  procure  some  hams  and  other  articles  of  pro- 
visions out  of  the  company's  stores. 

oOth. — Napoleon  has  been  occupied  for  some  days  in  dictating 
and  writing  observations  upon  the  works  of  the  Great  Frederick. 
Told  me  that  when  finished  they  might  probably  comprise  some 
five  or  six  octavo  volumes,  and  would  consist  of  military  obser- 
vations and  reflections  only,  with  as  much  detail  as  would  be 
necessary  for  the  explanation  of  the  operations  commented  upon. 
For  several  mornings  he  biis  been  up  at  3  a.  m.  writing.  Saw 
several  pages  of  his  handwriting,  which  was  much  more  legible 
than  any  I  had  before  seen.  He  observed,  that  formerly  he  was 
frequently  in  the  habit  of  writing  only  half  or  three  quarters  ot 
each  word,  and  running  them  into  each  other,  which  was  not 
attended  with  much  inconvenience,  as  the  secretaries  had  become 
so  well  accustomed  to  it,  that  they  could  read  it  with  nearly  as 
much  facility  as  if  it  were  written  plainly  ;  that,  however,  no 
person,  except  one  well  accustomed  to  his  manner  of  writing, 
could  read  it.     Latterly,  he  said,  he  had  begun  to  write  a  little 

•  Avoid  tlioae  persons. 


ISl'Z— MAY.  S23 

more  legibly,  in  consequence  of  not  being  so  much  hurried  as  on 
former  occasions. 

Napoleon  then  observed  that  I  had  made  a  considerable  progress 
in  French  since  he  had  first  seen  me,  "though  you  have,"  said 
he,  "a  very  bad  accent.  It  has  been  said  by  some  of  the  Eng- 
lish, that  1  understand  Italian  better  than  French,  which  is  not 
true.  Though  I  speak  the  Italian  very  fluently,  it  is  not  pure. 
Non  paria  Toscana*  nor  am  I  capable  of  writing  a  book  in  Ita- 
lian, nor  do  1  ever  speak  it  in  preference  to  the  French." 

Speaking  about  Chateaubriand's  attacks  upon  him,  he  observed, 
"C"cs<  un  de  ces  laches  qui  crachent  sur  un  cadavre.  (He  is  one  o( 
those  poltroons  who  spit  upon  a  dead  body.)  Like  Pichon  and 
others,  he  is  one  of  those  insects  that  feed  upon  a  corpse  which, 
while  living,  they  dared  not  approach."  After  some  other  con- 
versation, I  asked  him  if  there  had  been  a  sufficiency  of  provi- 
sions for  his  army  on  the  retreat  from  Moscow,  whether  it  might 
not  have  been  accomplished  with  a  loss  much  smaller  than  that 
which  they  had  sustained?  Napoleon  answered,  "No;  the  cold 
would  have  destroyed  them,  even  if  they  had  had  a  sufficiency 
of  provisions.  Those  who  had  food  died  by  hundreds.  Even 
the  Russians  themselves  died  like  flies." 

May  2d. — General  Montholon  very  ill.  Napoleon  expressed 
much  anxiety  about  him. 

4tk. — Baron  Sturmer  came  inside  of  Longwood,  and  had  some 
conversation  with  the  orderly  oflicer  relative  to  Napoleon. 

Gth. — Saw  Napoleon,  to  whom  I  gave  a  book,  entitled,  Moeurs 
et  Goutumes  des  Corses,\  which  he  ran  over,  frecjueiitly  laughing 
very  heartily  at  several  of  the  anecdotes  which  were  recounted  in 
it.  The  author,  he  said,  was  an  ignorantaccio^\  and  wholly  unac 
quainted  with  many  circumstances  relative  to  the  history,  manu- 
factures, &c.,  of  Corsica  ;  in  fact,  that  he  was  either  a  place-hunter 
or  a  man  who  had  been  ben  bastonato^^  by  the  Corsicans.  That 
many  of  the  anecdotes  he  related  respecting  assassinations  which 

*  I  do  not  speak  Tuscan. 

t  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Corsioans. 

X  Ignoramus. 

i  Well- beaten. 


S24  A    VOICK    FliOM    .ST.    HKLKNA. 

had  1>oen  comiuillod,  wito  true,  Imt  tlial  tlu-  C'orsicans  were  not 
in  (lio  lKil)it  of  assassiiiatiti}?  strnngors;  that  ihey  were  the  best 
friends  and  the  worst  enemies  in  the  world  ;  that  those  who  es- 
P'^used  a  pjirty  remained  unchangeaV)le.  "  Even  I,"  continued 
h'^,  "in  the  height  of  my  power,  eould  never  induce  the  English 
[.arty  to  change  tlu'ir  opinions,  though  I  ofTered  to  receive  them 
all  into  my  service." 

"  The  admiral,"  said  he,  "  held  a  long  conversation  with  me  a 
day  or  two  ago.  He  praised  the  governor;  said  that  I  was  mis- 
taken in  him  ;  that  he  was  an  extremely  well-informed  man,  and 
had  a  good  heart  at  bottom.  He  was  very  anxious  that  I  should 
meet  him,  on  an  opportunity  that  soon  would  be  afforded  by  the 
arrival  of  the  ambassador,  when  he  suggested  that  we  might 
meet  as  if  nothing  had  previously  occurred.  I  told  him  that  he 
did  not  know  the  governor ;  that  until  he  changed  his  conduct,  I 
would  not  see  him,  unless  by  force.  I  observed  that  he  might, 
without  any  discussion,  alter  his  restrictions,  and  treat  me  as  I 
would  myself  treat  a  person  placed  in  a  similar  situation  :  in 
fact,  in  a  word,  put  matters  upon  the  same  footing  as  he  found 
them,  or  nearly  so :  but  that  it  would  answer  no  purpose  for  us 
to  meet.  I  complain  of  the  ill  treatment  I  receive.  He  says, 
'  I  comply  w'ith  my  instructions.'  This  is  always  his  excuse. 
Now,  although  1  am  convinced  that  his  instructions  specify  no 
more  than  that  he  should  take  every  precaution  to  prevent  my 
escape  and  otherwise  to  treat  me  well,  and  with  as  little  possible 
expense  as  may  be,  yet  I  could  not  well  tell  him  that  he  asserted 
a  falsehood.  All  that  I  could  reply  would  be  by  making  a  com- 
parison  (in  doing  which  you  must  always  exaggerate,)  by  liken- 
ing him  to  a  hangman,  who,  while  he  puts  a  rope  round  your 
neck  to  dispatch  you,  only  executes  his  orders ;  but  that  is  not  a 
reason  that  you  should  be  obliged  to  make  a  companion  of  him, 
or  receive  him  until  the  moment  of  execution. — I  could  only  say 
this,  and  tell  him  that  if  such  were  his  orders,  he  had  disgraced 
himself  by  accepting  a  dishonorable  employment;  that  if  he  had 
not,  he  was  still  worse,  in  being  the  contriver  of  such.  As  long 
as  he  treats  me  a  la  Botany  Bay,  so  long  will  not  I  see  him.     I 


1817 — MAT.  825 

certainly  would  understand  not  to  see  the  commissioners,  and  not 
enter  houses  which  he  said  he  suspected." 

"  I  told  the  admiral,"  continued  he,  "  that  I  hoped  the  Prince 
Regent  would  know  of  the  treatment  which  I  receive  here.     The 
admiral  said,  that  if  I  thought  myself  aggrieved,  I  ought  to  com- 
plain, either  to  the  Regent,  or  to  the  ministers.     I  think  it  would 
be  a  degradation  to  me  to  complain  to    ministers   who   have 
treated  me  so  ill,  and  who  act  from  hatred.     The  admiral  strove 
to  excuse  the  governor,  and   declared  that  he  knew  it  was  the 
intention  of  the  English  government  to  treat  me  well,  and  that 
there  must  be  some  mistake  or  misconception,  which  would  be 
rectified.     I  told  him,  that  you  English  were  great  'egdistes,*  very 
fond  of  excusing  each  other  and  of  praising  your  country  and 
yourselves  ;  but  that  to  strangers,  every  thing  was  justifiable.     I 
spoke  to  him  about  the  detention  of  the  French  prisoners,  and 
the  reception  of  the  prisoners  who  had  broken  their  parole,  of 
which  I  had  been  accused.     I  explained,  that  the  English  were 
first  to  begin  ;"  here  Napoleon  gave  an  explanation  similar  to 
that  which  appears  in  a  preceding  part  of  the  work.     "  I  then 
published  in  the  Moniteur,  the  names  of  several  English  who  had 
violated  their  parole  and  escaped,  before  any  Frenchman  had 
done  the  same.     For  it  was  much  easier  to  escape  in  France 
than  in  England,  as  the  English  prisoners  were  allowed  great 
liberty,  and  much  more  space  than  the  French  were  in  England. 
But  the  fact  is,  that  your  ministers  hate  me,  because  I  acted 
vigorously,   and   always   retaliated   upon    them.      When   they 
blockaded  France,  I  blockaded  England,  and  I  always  made  re- 
prisals, which  they  had  not  been  accustomed  to  under  the  feeble 
government  of  the  Bourbons,  whom  they  used  to  insult  at  their 
pleasure.     I  told  him  that  the  English  would  hereafter  repent  of 
having  prosecuted  the  war  with  so  much  hatred  against  me.     If 
they  had  left  me  in   France,  after  my  return  from  Elba,  all 
Europe  would  have  been  quiet,  France  contented,  no  internal 
commotions,  nor   hatred  against  the  English,  for  forcmg  on  the 
nation  a  king  whom  they  detested.     The  revolutionary  spirit 
which  exists  now  against  the  actual  government  of  France,  may 

*  Egotists. 


326  A   VOICE   FROM   ST.   IIKLKNA. 

find  its  way  to  England,  and  if  so,  there  is  no  knowing  how  it 
uiuy  tenninato," 

"I  told  him  alst),"  continued  Napoleon,  "that  I  had  been  well 
pleased  at  the  capture  of  Copenhagen,  because  it  made  bitter 
oneniios  of  the  Danes,  without  injuring  me.  For  it  was  not 
.-ihips  that  I  wanted,  but  naval  ollicers  and  seamen,  who  were  all 
left  behind  to  man  my  vessels.  I  also  informed  him,  that  the 
capture  and  robbery  of  the  Spanish  frigates  pleased  me;  as  it 
caused  you  to  be  hated  in  Spain,  where  you  might  have  been 
and  were  popular  before,  and  besides,  was  unworthy  of  a  great 
nation.  I  told  him  that  I  did  not  receive  money  direct  from 
Spain.  That  1  got  bills  upon  Vera  Cruz,  which  certain  agents 
sent  by  circuitous  routes,  by  Amsterdam,  Hamburg,  and  other 
places,  to  London,  (as  1  had  no  direct  communication.)  The 
bills  were  discounted  by  merchants  in  London,  to  whom  ten 
per  cent.,  and  sometimes  a  premium,  was  paid  as  their  reward. 
Bills  were  then  given  by  them  upon  different  bankers  in  Europe 
for  the  greatest  part  of  the  amount,  and  the  remainder  in  gold, 
which  last  was  brought  over  to  France  by  the  smugglers.  Even 
for  the  equipping  my  last  expedition,  a  great  part  of  the  money 
was  raised  in  London."  I  asked  if  he  meant  that  after  his  return 
from  Elba?     He  replied,  "Yes,  that  last  expedition." 

"  I  told  the  admiral,"  continued  Napoleon,  "  that  you  had  been 
the  first  violators  of  the  peace  of  Amiens  ;  that  your  ministers, 
who  boast  so  much  of  not  having  acknowledged  me  as  emperor, 
were  so  conscious,  themselves,  of  having  been  the  violators  of 
the  treaty,  that  they  offered,  through  Lord  Whitworth,  to  give 
thirty  millions  of  francs,  and  to  assist,  as  much  as  lay  in  their 
power,  to  make  me  King  of  France,  if  I  would  consent  to  the 
English  retaining  Malta."  I  took  the  liberty  of  asking  to  whom 
the  proposal  had  beer,  made?  "To  Malouei,  who  was  minister 
to  Louis  a  short  time  ago,"  replied  the  emperor  ;  "  my  answer 
to  this  offer  was,  '  Tell  Lord  Whitworth,  that  I  will  owe  nothing 
to  strangers,  or  to  their  interference.  If  the  French  nation  do 
not,  of  themselves,  create  me  king,  foreign  influence  shall  never 
be  employed  by  me  to  obtain  it.'  The  fact  is,  that  your  minis- 
ters always  deceived  the  people  by  false  and  artful  representar 


1817— MAY.  827 

tiond,  and  are  of  the  opinion  expressed  by  the  great  Lord  Chatham, 
'  that  if  England  acted  towards  France  with  justice  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  she  would  be  ruined.' 

"The  admiral,"  continued  Napoleon,  "is  very  well  informed 
about  the  history  of  the  last  years ;  is  really  an  Eiiglishnian,  and 
sticks  up  for  his  country  whenever  he  can  ;  but  notwithstanding, 
he  could  not  contradict  several  of  the  assertions  1  made  to  him 
because  they  were  incontrovertible  facts.  He  returned  fre 
quently  to  the  proposed  interview  with  the  ambassador,  which 
he  is  most  desirous  should  take  place.  I  am  convinced  that  no 
good  would  arise  from  it.  I  wish,"  added  he,  "  that  he  should 
know  my  sentiments  on  these  matters." 

I  remarked,  that  perhaps  his  refusing  to  see  the  ambassador 
might  be  construed  into  an  insult  to  the  British  government,  and 
to  the  nation,  which  he  represented.  Napoleon  replied,  "  It  can- 
not admit  of  such  a  construction.  He  is  not  sent  as  an  ambas- 
sador to  St.  Helena.  He  was  ambassador  to  the  Emperor  of 
China,  and  at  St.  Helena  can  only  appear  in  his  private  capacity. 
Consequently,  there  is  no  necessity  for  his  being  introduced  by 
the  governor.  If  he  wants  to  see  me,  let  him  go  to  Bertrand, 
without  being  accompanied  by  any  of  the  governor's  people ; 
then  wp  will  see  about  it.  However,  I  think  it  would  be  better 
for  both,  that  it  should  not  take  place.  For  if  1  receive  him,  I 
must  put  on  an  appearance  of  cheerfulness,  and  clothe  my  face 
with  smiles  ;  as  it  is  contrary  to  my  custom  to  receive  any  per- 
son otherwise.  Then,  I  must  either  be  obliged  to  make  com- 
plaints  to  a  stranger  of  the  barbarous  treatment  I  receive  here, 
which  is  lessening  to  the  dignity  and  character  of  a  man  like 
me  ;  or  else,  I  must  furnish  an  ooportunity  to  this  governor  to 
fill  the  ambassador's  heaa  witn  lies,  ana  make  him  observe,  that 
I  am  so  well  treated,  that  I  have  made  no  complaints,  that  I 
want  for  nothing,  that  for  me  on  a  tous  les  egards  possibles*  and 
enable  him  to  write  home  a  bulletin  of  falsehoods,  with  an  appeal 
to  the  ambassador  in  proof  of  the  truth  of  them.  So  that  it 
would  place  ine  in  an  awkward  dilemma,  and  one  which  it  would 
be  better  to  avoid." 

*  They  pay  me  ovory  ntlontion  possible. 


828  A    VOICK    FROM    ST.    1IK1,ENA. 

He  was  very  anxious  in  his  iiujuiiios  almnt  Capta.n  Moynell, 
who  WHS  very  danijoroiisly  ill.     Geiu'ial  Moiitholi.n  much  better. 

I  showod  him  (ho  Navtil  Chroniolo,  in  which  there  was  a  long 
article  about  the  death  of  Captain  Wright,  "No  person,"  said 
Napoleon,  "  assorts  positively  that  he  had  seen  him  murdered  ; 
and  the  principal  evidence  who  testifies  to  the  belief  of  it,  was  a 
man  who  was  himself  in  prison.  Let  him  be  asked  for  what 
crime  he  was  thrown  into  a  jail.  It  is  not  a  place  for  honest 
people,  or  for  those  whose  testimony  could  be  relied  upon.  If  I 
had  acted  properly,  I  should  hivve  ordered  Wright  to  be  tried  by 
a  military  commission  as  a  spy,  and  shot  within  twenty-four 
hours,  which,  by  the  laws  of  war,  I  was  entitled  to  do.  What 
would  your  ministers,  or  even  your  parliament,  have  done  to  a 
French  captain  that  was  discovered  landing  assassins  in  England 
to  murder  King  George  ?  If  I  had,  in  retaliation  of  the  assassins 
sent  to  murder  me,  sent  others  to  murder  *  *  *  and  the  Bourbon 
princes,  what  would  have  been  done  to  the  captain  of  the  vessel 
who  had  landed  them  in  England,  if  he  were  taken  1  They 
would  not  have  been  so  lenient  as  I  was  with  Wright.  Thoy 
would  have  had  him  tried  and  executed  sur  le  champ."* 

*  Immediately. 


■ND  OF  yOL    L 


Old  Spanish  Romances. 

Illustrated  by  48  beautiful  Etchings  by  R.  de  Los  Rios.     12  vols, 
crown  8vo,  cloth  |i8.oo  ;  half  calf  extra,  or,  half  morocco,  I36.00. 


The  History  of  Don  Quixote  of  la  Mancha. 

Translated  from  the  Spanish  of  Miguel  de  Cervantes  Saavedra  by 
Motteux.  With  copious  notes  (including  the  Spanish  Ballads),  and 
an  Essay  on  the  Life  and  Writings  of  Cervantes,  by  John  G.  Lockhart. 
Preceded  by  a  Short  Notice  of  the  Life  and  Works  of  Peter  Anthony 
Motteux,  by  Henri  Van  Laun.  Illustrated  with  sixteen  original 
etchings  by  R.  de  Los  Rios.     4  vols.,  post  8vo,  1,758  pp.,  $6.00. 

Lazarillo  de  Tormes.     (Life   and  Adventures  of) 

Translated  from  the  Spanish  of  Don  Diego  Hurtado  De  Mendoza, 
by  Thomas  Roscoe.  Also,  the  Life  and  Adventures  of 
Guzman  d'AlfaracIie;  or,  Tlie  Spanish  Rogue,  by 
Mateo  Aleman.  Translated  from  the  French  edition  of  Le  Sage, 
by  John  Henry  Brady.  Illustrated  with  eight  original  etchings  by 
R.  de  Los  Rios.     2  vols.,  post  8vo,  729  pp.,  I3.00. 

Asmodeus,  or  the  Devil  upon  Two   Sticks. 

Preceded  by  dialogues,  serious  and  comic  between  Two  Chimneys 
of  Madrid.  Translated  from  the  French  of  Alain  Ren6  Le  Sage. 
Illustrated  with  four  orginal  etchings  by  R,  de  Los  Rios,  i  vol., 
post8  vo.,  332  pp.,  I1.50. 

The  Bachelor  of  Salamanca.  ByLeSage.  Trans- 
lated from  the  French  by  James  Townsend.  Illustrated  with  four 
original  etchings  by  R.  de  Los  Rios.     i  vol.,  postSvo,  400  pp.,  I1.50. 

Vanillo  Gonzales,  or  the  Merry  Bachelor.    By 

Le  Sage.  Translated  from  the  French.  Illustrated  with  four  original 
etchings  by  R.  de  Los  Rios.     i  vol.,  post  8vo.     455  pp.,  I1.50. 

The  Adventures  of   Gil  Bias  of  Santillane. 

Translated  from  the  French  of  Le  Sage  by  Tobias  Smollett.  With 
biographical  and  critical  notice  of  Le  Sage  by  George  Saintsbur\ . 
New  edition,  carefully  revised.  Illustrated  with  twelve  original  etcli 
ingsby  R.  de  Los  Rios.    3  vols.,  post  8vo.     1,200  pp.,  $4.50. 


F*RESs    Notices. 

"This  prettily  printed  and  prettily  illustrated  collection  of  Spanish  Ro- 
mances deserve  their  welcome  from  all  students  of  seventeenth  century  liter- 
ature."—77/^  Titnes. 

"A  handy  and  beautiful  edition  of  the  works  of  the  Spanish  masters  of 
romance We  may  say  of  thisedition  of  the  immortal  work  of  Cer- 
vantes that  it  is  most  tastefully  and  admirably  executed,  and  that  it  is  em- 
bellished with  a  series  of  striking  etchings  from  the  pen  of  the  Spanish  artist 
De  los  Rios."-  Z^a/Zy  Telegraph. 

"Handy  in  form,  they  are  well  printed  from  clear  type,  and  are  got  up 
with  much  elegance;  the  etchings  are  full  of  humor  and  force  The  read- 
ing public  have  reason  to  congratulate  tliemselves  that  so  neat,  compact,  and 
well  arranged  an  editum  nf  romances  that  can  never  die  is  put  within  their 
reach.    The  publisher  has  spared  no  pains  witn  them."  -Scotsman. 


Popular  editions  of  the  Spanish  R'jmances. 
Asmodeus;  or,  the  Devil  upon  Two  Sticks. 

My  A.  R.  Le  Sai^e.  \Vitli  tk-sii^ns  by  Tony  Joliannot.  'lianslaliicl 
Iroiu  the  French.  Willi  fourteen  Illustrations.  Post  8vo,  332  pp., 
paper,  5octs..  cloth  jfi. 00. 

A  new  illustrated  edition  of  one  of  the  masterpieces  of  the  world  of  fictfon 

The  Bachelor  of  Salamanca.    ByLeSase.   Trans- 

laud  Ironi  tile  l-ivnch  by  James  Tounseiul,  with  five  illustratione 
by  R.  lie  Los  Rios.     400  pp.,  paper,  50  cts.,  cloth  |;i.oo. 

Adventures  related  in  an  amusing  manner.  The  writer  exhibits  remark- 
able boldness,  force,  and  orifjinality  while  charminK  us  by  his  surprising 
th^hts  i>f  imagination  and  his  iirofound  knowledge  of  Spanish  character. 

Vanillo  Gonzales,  or  the  Merry  Bachelor.    By 

Le  Sage.  Translated  from  the  French.  With  tive  illustrations  bj 
R.   de  Los  Rios.     455   paji:es,  paper  50  cts.,  cloth  |i. 00. 

Audacious,  witty,  and  entertaining  in  the  highest  degree. 

The  Adventures  of   Gil  Bias  of  Santillane. 

Translated  from  the  French  of  Le  Sage  by  Tobias  Smollett.     With 
biographical  and  critical  notice  of  Le  Sage  by  George  Saintsbury. 
New  edition,  carefully  revised.     With  twelve  illustrations  by  R.  d« 
Los  Rios.     3  vols.,  post  8vo,  1,200  pp.,  cloth  fo.oo. 
A  classic  in  the  realm  of  entertaining  literature. 

Napoleon.  Memoirs  of  the  Life,  Exile,  and  Conversations  of  the 
Emperor  Napoleon,  by  the  Count  de  Las  Cases.  With  eight  steel 
portraits,  maps  and  illustrations.  Four  vols.,  post  8vo,  each  400 
pp.,  cloth,  jfs.oo,  half  calf  e.xtra,  |io.oo. 

With  his  Son  the  Count  devoted  himself  at  St.  Helena  to  the  care  of  the  Em- 
peror, and  passed  his  evenings  in  recording  his  remarks. 

Napoleon   in    Exile;  or  A  Voice  from  St.  Helena. 

Opinions  and  Reflections  of  Napoleon  on  the  Most  Important  Events 
in  his  Life  and  Government,  in  his  own  words.  By  Barry  E. 
O'Meara,  his  late  Surgeon.  Portrait  of  Napoleon,  after  Delaroche, 
and  a  view  of  St.  Helena,  both  on  steel.  2  vols.,  post  Svo,  662  pp., 
cloth  I2.50,  in  half  calf  extra,  ;f;5.oo. 

Mr.  O'Meara's  work  contains  a  body  of  the  most  interesting  and  valuable 
information- information  the  accuracy  of  which  stands  unimpeached  by  any 
attacks  made  against  its  author.  The  details  in  Las  Cases'  work  and  those  of 
Mr.  O'Meara  mutually  support  each  other. 

Shakespeare  Portrayed  by  Himself,    a  Reveia> 

Ikjh  of  the  Poet  in  the  Career  and  Character  of  one  of  his  own  Dr* 
matic  Heroes.  By  Robert  Waters,  i  vol.,  i2mo.,  cloth  extra,  I1.25. 
In  this  able  and  interesting  work  on  Shakespeare,  the  author  shows  con- 
clusively how  our  great  poet  revealed  himself,  his  life,  and  his  character.  It 
is  written  in  good  and  clear  language,  exceedingly  picturesque,  and  is  alto- 
gether the  best  popular  life  of  Shakespeare  that  has  yet  appeared. 

Cobbett's,  (Wm.)  English  Grammar.    Edited  by 

Robert  Waters,     i  vol.,  i2mo.,  cloth  li.oo. 

'Of  all  the  books  on  English  grammar  that  I  have  met  with,  Cobbett's 
seems  to  me  the  best,  and,  indeed,  the  only  one  to  be  used  with  advantage  t» 
teaching  English.  His  style  is  a  model  of  correctness,  of  clearness,  and  of 
strength.     He  wrote  English  with  uncon.scious  en^G."— Richard  Grant  White 

"The  best  English  grammar  extant  for  s>&\{-m?Xrwc\.\o-!\."—  School  Board 
Chronicle.      "  As  interesting  as  a  story-book."— //dz////. 

"The  only  amusing  grammar  in  the  world."-  Sir  Henry  Lytton  Bulwer. 

"Written  with  vigor,  energy,  and  courage,  joined  to  a  force  of  understand 
ing,  a  degree  ot  logical  power,  and  force  of  expression  which  has  rarely  been 
equalled  "--  Saturday  Revh-iV 


A  VISIT  TO  CEYLON 

BT 

ERNEST    HAECKEL, 

raonteos  ik  thb  univbrsitt  of  jena.    author  of  "thb  history  or  crxation," 
"  history  of  thb  bvolution  op  man,"  ktc. 

WITH  PORTRAIT,   AND  MAP    OF  INDIA    AND   CEYLON. 

TB.ft.-N.Sl^&.T'El'D  BY  O'Lifi.'B.fi.  B-ElILLl. 

One  yolome,  post  8vo,  348  pages,  extra  vellum  cloth,  $1.00. 


Before  venturing  on  this  memorable  voyage  to  India  and  Ceylon,  whose  results  have 
delighted  and  entranced  many  readers  in  both  hemispheres,  our  enthusiastic  author, 
having  conferred  many  zoological  titles  in  honor  of  the  ;iiii:;ust  divinity  that  controls  and 
governs  the  solar  orb,  claimed  in  returu  special  consideration  and  protection  from  the 
occult  forces  of  that  brilliant  luminary,  and  hoping  to  l)e  favored  with  pleasant  and  agree 
able  weather  during  the  entire  voyage,  he  made,  with  all  the  solemnity  that  becomes  a 
scientist,  the  following  propitiatory  invocation  to  Hettos,  the  benignant  god  of  the  Sun: 

"  I  beseech  thee,  adored  Sun-god,  that  this,  my  zoological  tribute,  may  find  favor  in 
thine  eyes  I  Guide  me,  safe  and  sound,  to  India,  that  I  may  labor  in  thy  light,  and  return 
home  under  thy  protection  in  the  spring."— //a^c/t?/'i  Visit  to  Ceylon,  page  jo. 

"  These  letters  constitute  one  of  the  most  charming  books  of  travel  ever  published,  quit* 
worth/  of  baiiijc  placed  by  the  side  of  Darwin's  '  Voyage  of  the  Biaglt.'  "—l^mtwn. 


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